Biography

JAMES KIRKLAND c 1833-1902

Responding to a request by the Presbytery to Home, James accepted a 500 pound loan without interest to immigrate to Port Chalmers, New Zealand onboard the “Pladda” in 1862 with his wife Mary, their children Martha, Agnes, Jessie and Mary’s sister Martha Dougall as fare paying passengers. The “Pladda” left Glasgow on the 11th September and arrived at Port Chalmers on December 20th.

James worked in a tea merchant’s establishment and while managing the Glasgow branch his thoughts turned to the ministry. He studied at Glasgow University and Free Church College, Glasgow, during this time was appointed one of the City of Glasgow’s missionaries and often preached in the stone pulpit of Bridgegate amid showers of bricks and bottles. It was this kind of experience that developed in him the fire and evangelical vigour which characterised his preaching. In 1862 James was licensed by the Free Church Presbytery of Glasgow and on 24th June was received as a Probationer by the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland.

Rev James was ordained as minister of Inchclutha and Kaitangata Parish on 10th September 1863, at the Hokitika and Westport parish on 10th September 1872 and West Taieri on 4th September 1875. During 1872 Rev Kirkland was Moderator of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland and also 2nd Convenor of the committee to the care for the Foreign, Maori and Chinese interests of the church

The Outlook of 12th october 1901 reported,”At a meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery last week the Rev. James Kirkland tendered his resignation of the West Taieri charge on account of impaired health. Mr. Kirkland is one of our pioneer ministers. He was inducted into Inch Clutha and Kaitangata in 1864. He did good work there, and could tell of many hair- breadth escapes in his frequent crossings of the treacherous Molyneux in a little boat. He was always ready, also, to take his share of the long journeys on horse back that were a feature of ministerial labour in those early days. He was called to Hokitika in 1873. His two years ministry on the West Coast during the excitment and turmoil of the gold mining fever and was greatly blessed In 1885 he returned to the Church of Otago, and has been not only deligent within the bounds of his own charge, but wiling to further every good work in Dunedin and else where. We hope rest and freedom from direct responsibility will secure for him a fuller measure of health than he has for some time enjoyed”.

“During the first year at West Taieri a new manse was erected and in November 1878 the Maungatua folk decided a church was necessary in their district, this was built at the cost of 475 pounds and opened on December 21st 1879. Services were held here every second Sunday and on alternate Sundays at Berwick until 1898 when Berwick joined South Taieri. A collection plate was first passed around in West Taieri in 1894.

Mr. Kirkland always liked a jug of water on the pulpit beside him and one Sunday morning two bright lads from the village, when on their way to church, found a flask with some whiskey in it and they conceived what they thought was a brilliant idea of playing a trick on the minister .While one lad stood on guard at the door, the other slipped in and poured some whiskey into both jug and glass. You can just see those boys anxiously waiting for the minister to take his first sip. When he did he smelt first the glass then the jug, and then stood eyeing his congregation for a few minutes. Then he announced from the pulpit that some person had been interfering with his drinking water .They had polluted it with whiskey. He never found the culprits.

Driving in his buggy out to Maungatua, whistling as he usually did, Mr. Kirkland met Mr. Thos Muir with his plaid across his shoulder. Mr. Kirkland greeted him with,” It’s a cold, damp day.” There was no reply. Mr. Kirkland repeated, “It’s a cold, damp day.” “Ah well,” says Mr. Muir, “it’s the Lord’s will, so ye needna be swearing about it.”

It was in 1901 that Mr. Kirkland was granted six months leave of absence in the hope that his failing health might be restored. Unfortunately the rest did not have the desired effect, and after serving West Taieri as minister for 26 years, Mr. Kirkland’s resignation was handed in to Presbytery in October 1901. His retirement to Roslyn was not for long, for on February 14th, 1902, he passed away quietly to his due reward”.
From a booklet about the early Taieri churches.

James Kirkland died on 15th Febuary 1902. The Otago Daily Times and The Otago Witness carried the obituary: “The funeral of the late Rev James Kirkland took place on Monday afternoon. The funeral left the deceased’s late residence in Hart Street, Roslyn at half past 1, and was followed to the grave in the Northern Cemetery by a large number of friends. With the exception of one or two who were out of town, all the members of Presbytery in and around Dunedin were present. The chief mourners were the deceased’s son’s (the Rev. A. Kirkland, of Riversdale, and and Messrs J. and H. Kirkland) and his sons-in-law ( Messrs Grigor, Betts and Inglis). There were also present the Rev. Dr.Bannerman, Mr John Blair, Messrs A. Chisholm and Grant (elder of the West Taieri Church), J. Bathgate, J.Blair, the Rev Mr. Young (who had been supplying the West Taieri pulpit for the past six weeks). Messrs A.C. Begg, A.C.J.Brown, and Professor Gilray. The Revs, Dr Bannerman and James Chisholm officiated at the service at the house, and the Rev Messrs Gibb and McKerrow at the grave”.

The Otago Witness of 19th February 1902 carried the following obituary: “It is with regret that we have to announce the death of the Rev James Kirkland, late Presbyterian minister at West Taieri, who expired somewhat suddenly at the residence of Mrs. Bowler Roslyn early on the 14inst. The cause of death was an epileptic stroke. Deceased was educated at Glasgow University and came to the colony in 1863. His first church was at Inch Clutha, in the same year where he remained until 1872 when he went to Hokitika. He was removed from the latter place to West Taieri in 1875 and stayed there until the time of his retirement.

Mr. Kirkland as a student was employed in mission work. He was also Moderator of the Otago and Southland Synod 1 year.

He leaves a widow, four sons and five daughters. One of the sons is a minister at Riverdale.”

The same edition of The Otago Witness also carried the funeral notice:
“KIRKLAND. On the 14th February at the residence of Mrs. Bowler Hart Street, Roslyn (late West Taieri) aged 69 years.”

Quotes from ‘Down Through the Years 1860 – 1960’, printed by Otago Daily Times and Witness