Created By: Auckland Council
As Mayfield’s population grew, the need for a venue for church services became increasingly clear. It was not until 1915, though, that anything was done. In that year, the Douglas family donated land for a religious structure. And then the building began!
At dawn on September 4, locals and builders gathered to perform a feat of epic proportions. Work began at 5.30 sharp and the preassembled pieces of timber soon began to take shape. In a tent next door, the women offered refreshments and encouragement. By 6:00 p.m. the multi-denominational hall was finished, complete with a fine set of gates. What an achievement in any time and particularly so as many able-bodied men of the district were serving overseas.
From the 1950s, the old building was left largely unused, but in 1975, it took a new lease on life as part of the Glenfield Community Centre. In 1989, the local Rotary Club landscaped the grounds and painted the hall. Today, it still serves the community over a century after that one-day marathon. The hall is managed by the Community Centre and may be viewed upon appointment. Inside, you can see a set of photos documenting progress on that September day in 1915. A plaque commemorating local boys who fought and fell in World War I is attached to the hall’s exterior.
Turn left on Bentley Avenue to return to Glenfield Library.
This point of interest is part of the tour: Glenfield History Walk
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