MACFARLANE, JOHN (1827-1859), the first minister of the Church of Scotland in New Zealand, had been for some years successfully ministering at the Martyrs' Church in Paisley when he was chosen in 1839 to accompany the Scottish emigrants in the Bengal Merchant. Arriving at Port Nicholson on 20 Feb 1840, he held the first service six days later near Petone beach. Thereafter he preached every Sunday in Bethune's store on the Hutt river. He built his house in Clyde terrace, Petone. After the removal of the town to Thorndon, services were held at first in Hunter's premises and later in the Exchange in Customhouse quay. MacFarlane also preached in the native chapel at Te Aro and in the courthouse at Thorndon. He preached in Gaelic at Kaiwarra for the benefit of the Highland settlers, the first sermon in that tongue being delivered on 20 Jun 1841.

For some weeks, until the arrival of the first Anglican clergyman, MacFarlane ministered to the wants of all the Protestant colonists. As the result of a visit to Nelson in 1842 he appealed to the missionary committee for a minister for that district. The draft constitution of the first Presbyterian church in Wellington was unanimously approved in Mar 1843. In the following month arrived the Rev James Duncan, who had been chosen by the Reformed Church of Scotland as missionary for the Maori in Manawatu. He made his headquarters in Wellington while studying the language, and during that time assisted MacFarlane at St Andrew's Church, which was opened on 7 Jan 1844. MacFarlane was deeply interested in the Mechanics' Institute. He left for Scotland in Oct 1844 by the Bella Marina, the church being closed during his absence.

Owing to the state of his health he did not return to New Zealand, but settled as minister at Lochgilphead, Inverary, Argyllshire, where he died in Mar 1859.

Ward; Rev A. B. Kilroy in the Outlook, 23 Feb 1938; Dickson (p); N.Z. Colonist, 23 Aug 1842; Wellington Independent, 26 Jul 1859; Evening Post, 6 Sep 1938 (p). Portrait at St Andrew's Church, Wellington.

Reference: Volume 2, page 9

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