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Minutes of the General Assembly 2012
Five years later, the Vintens moved to Wainuiomata Union Parish. These were busy
years in the wider Church and for Wainuiomata especially. During that time, Bill and
Barbara made friendships of enduring depth and spiritual and intellectual integrity.
On 8 February 1976, Bill was inducted to Lansdowne, Masterton and six years later
on1 February, he was appointed jointly by the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches as
Director of the Stewardship Department. He retired on 31 January 1991. Through his
time in Stewardship and on into retirement, Bill maintained his membership with
Lansdowne; not necessarily the easiest feat for a former minister.
Bill is missed not only by the Church but also by his many friends in the wider
community, especially those involved in theatre.
Wanden, Mr Norman
16 June 1922 - 3 October 2011
Norman Wanden’s life spanned a full 88 years from his birth in Palmerston North on 16
June 1922 to his death in Palmerston North Hospital on the morning of Sunday 3
October 2010. His funeral on 6 October 2011 was significantly also the 65th
anniversary of his marriage to his beloved Audrey. Following Audrey’s death in 2003,
the 81-year-old Norman continued to flourish and grow as a resourceful, self-sufficient
and adventurous widower. To the very end of his life, Norman radiated in great
abundance the thankfulness, hope, trust, compassion and companionship of a deeply
faithful Christian life.
Norman’s association with St David’s Church, Palmerston North began in 1953 when
Audrey and Norman transferred there from St Andrew’s. By 1957, Norman was
serving on the board of managers, a body that he led for many years. Throughout all
his years of service at St David’s, Norman retained a quiet passion for the
conscientious stewardship of the church’s finance and property, noting that “it is
amazing how $1.00 looks so big when we take it to church and so small when we take
it to the shop” and “small jobs take time, but if no one cares, how neglected our
buildings become and major work is then needed”. Norman was ordained as an elder
on 30 October 1960, thus serving for almost 50 years.
The gifts of practicality, thrift and meticulous attention to detail that Norman brought to
the church must have been honed during his military service as an aircraft engineer,
his management of the central stores at Palmerston North Hospital, his nurturing of his
family of four children (Marilyn, Christopher, Neil and Kevin) and many hours spent
productively in the shed of their family home on Russell Street. Norman is particularly
remembered for his championing of the upgrade of St David’s toilet facilities, his vision
of the need to advance rather than stagnate or retreat in times of tight finance, his
devotion to Friends of St David’s (the senior fellowship), and his inexhaustible
commitment to visiting his old friends.
Norman was a key figure in establishing Milson Combined Church (with the Anglican
and Methodist Churches) in 1976, being one of the three members from St David’s on
the founding committee. Norman never relinquished his association with Milson
Combined Church and remained as St David’s representative on their board, reporting
regularly to our parish council and to presbytery.
Norman and Audrey had provided many years of faithful service to presbytery. Norman
hardly missed a meeting, no matter where it was held, right up to the September 2010
56 Session 2