Cheviot---the Carol service

Marita3
Mark & Helen Syrett
Mon 22 Dec 2014 08:48
42:48.523S 173:16.239E
Sunday 21 December
We drove south towards Christchurch and stopped for some lunch at a town/village (population 450) about half way. A quick look at the information confirmed our initial thoughts that there would not be much to look at but there three churches so we decided to look at the Anglican church. Perched on a hill side with its hall alongside was this pretty white and blue painted church
We ventured inside (it was unlocked) and there was a very pretty timber vaulted interior which was fully carpeted and with soft cushions on the pews. the stained glass windows were from the William Morris workshops in memory of New Zealanders who died in WW 1
The notice board said that there was to be a carol service at 1900 so we decided to delay our travels south and get into the festive spirit.
We drove down to Gore Beach for lunch and had a long walk along the shingle beach. This was another of those niche place with architect designed houses and boats, surf boards and four wheel drives!

We returned via the “cathedral cliffs” a spire like limestone rock formation
and then drove into the open countryside where we stopped for a brew. 
We came to with a jolt at six thirty— a rapid change and we were off to the carol service. We parked the Mighty in the church car park behind the Church and went in—we received a great welcome.
Helen, the pastor, had recently retired so the service was taken by a local worthy. There were no hymn books so the words were shown on a screen with acetates and an overhead projector——every now and then fingers would appear as the acetates were moved up and down. There were about 70 in the congregation and it was a very jolly affair with formal lessons from the bible being read together with a reading from the “Aussie bible" and one from the “NZ bible”—no more need be said!
In the pew two rows in front of us there were 3 boys, aged about 11 years to 6 years old, plus their elder sister who was about 15 years old. The boys were immaculately dressed in long cord trousers and blue check shirts. After about five minutes we noticed that there were in fact 4 boys there, the youngest of about 4 years old, being hidden between his brothers. After the first carol we looked across the aisle to the pew opposite and there was mum and dad, with mum being heavily pregnant. Number 5 on the way we thought. And then suddenly from behind the bump appeared number 5 boy who was about two years old. A girl and 5 boys—phew! The service ended but to our utter amazement, lo and behold number 6 boy in blue check shirt appeared from behind his father. He was about 13 years old. The total was now 7 ----- 1 girl and 6 boys!
Everybody retired into the adjacent hall for tea and cake—Mark thought that in this wine producing country something else might be on offer.

Everybody was were really welcoming and friendly from farmers and former farmers, ex pats and ‘natives’. Tim and Helen (the retired pastor) invited us sailing on their boat up in the Marlborough Sound in January which we will certainly try and fit in if time allows. Mark spoke to the ‘family’—they came over from America five years ago (we think from Mum and the daughter’s dress and head scarf they were Plymouth Brethen) and settled here. Number 8 is due in three weeks and they do not know whether it will be a boy or a girl. The 7 kids are all home schooled. He was hoping to find work in the timber yard but had ended up working in the “meat market” (abattoir/slaughterhouse). They kill all sorts of livestock (beef cattle, cows and sheep etc) and it is all processed on site. He worked in ‘small goods’  and made sausages. Very appropriate!
They suggested we camped overnight in the church car park which was gratefully accepted. A lovely evening in a beautiful spot.