Christmas Service 2014

2014 Te Harinui: 200 years of Christian Worship

The Marsden Cross at Oiho marks the first place the gospel was heard in New Zealand. Photo: RNZ/Lois Williams.

On Christmas Day in 1814, on a small Northland beach, Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden proclaimed the Gospel to a large gathering of Māori and a small group of his own missionaries - the first time it had been heard in this country.

Intertwined with some of the hymns and readings that were first heard here 200 years ago, Justin Gregory explores the back story to that first service and tells us about plans for the bicentenary celebrations.