Bishop Selwyn’s welcome picnic for the Fencible Families was recalled in a 175th Trust event on Saturday with a picnic at St John’s Theological College in Meadowbank.
Some of the original buildings that hosted the 300 newly arrived families from the Minerva and the Sir Robert Sale were made available to the group.
Addressed by Don Moffat, Sir Paul Reeves Fellow and Allan Davidson, author of the Selwyn College History, the group was then given a tour around the college chapel, the dining room and library.
College librarian Judith Bright, who lives in Buckland’s Beach, prepared a power point presentation and a photo board of All Saints Church history and most warmly of all – the college made their lovely dining room available to the intrepid picnickers.
One wonders what the Fencible families who were accommodated in a large tent in 1847 would have done in such inclement weather.