1869 "The Manse, Christchurch"? *COMPLETED*

[PrueM]

Hello all,

I'm on the wrong side of "the ditch" but I hope you'll help me anyway 

In 1869 my ancestors Michael Nancarrow and Margaret Patterson were married at "the Manse in the district of Christchurch, Canterbury".  Can anyone please tell me where or what the Manse is/was?  One of the witnesses to the marriage gave her name and residence as "Susan McInnes, Manse"

Cheers
Prue

[Janette]

Hi Prue,

I found this on google"The Manse, Tuam Street, Christchurch."
A manse is the residence of a minister usually presbyterian,looking at other marriages the witnesses may be people working at the manse e.g. gardner ,gentlewoman,spinster etc,
I hope this helps,

Cheers Janette

[kiwihalfpint]

I haven't heard the word "The Manse" for years ...  its a word I knew through the Church when I was a nipper




Cheers
KHP

[Koromo]

Hi Prue

Some time ago I was chasing a couple who married in Christchurch, and Kea very kindly found their marriage for me, also at the Manse:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,366756.msg2425520.html#msg2425520

Don't know why they used the manse and not the church, and I don't know anything more about them – they are in my 'unknown/possible' file to do with a very small distant twig on my tree.

Cheers
Koromo

[PrueM]

Thank you all - I suspected it was something to do with St Andrew's but wanted some local knowledge/ideas    I was going to ask whether The Manse was used before the church itself was built but that doesn't make sense as a Manse presumably has to be attached to a church!  Also found a photograph of the church dated 1858 which puts paid to that idea.

The witness I mentioned also noted herself as "spinster" - wonder what all those spinsters were doing there?  Can't have been having a good time - Presbyterians not really known for that! 

Anyway...thank you again 

Cheers
Prue

[Janette]

Maybe she was the minister's COOK 

[PrueM]

Maybe she really was his spinster, and spun the yarn to make the cloth to make his cassocks or something   

[Lucy2]

Hi Prue

I have a rellie marrying in Christchurch in 1877 at "The Manse", St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.   

I wonder whether the "Manse" might have been used as a venue for  say, a "smaller" wedding ?

Oooh   ... yep, "musta bin a lotta" spinsters lurking around the Manse    ... my couple had one as a witness (she was unrelated to them. )   

~   Lu

[Suzy W]

Thanks for posting about the "Manse"  I also have came across this on one marriage. 
If it is St Andrew's Church, this church has now been relocated to one of the private girl schools in Christchurch.
Both my mother and sister were married there and we did have photo's of the church, but my sister took a hissy fit and threw them out after her devoice (sadly my mothers photo's do not show the church).  But it was a lovely wooden church that stood on the corner between Tuam Street that met up with Christchurch Hospital, it is now a car park.
Hope this is of some help.

Suzy W