On Golders Hill: a history of Thorndon Parish

This parish history by Dan Kelly has some fascinating revelations and wonderful old photographs. I enjoyed putting it all together, some pages are favourites of mine. In 2009 we can’t imagine a priest’s funeral filling Glenmore Street from top to bottom.

I particularly enjoyed learning about the significance of music within the parish in the days before television. Competitiveness between the Thorndon Parish and that attached to St Mary of the Angels in Boulcott Street was legendary. For example, which parish had the best conductor / choir master / organist, and more importantly whose concert secured the larger audience and raised maximum funds.

Copies of this book may still be available from the parish office of the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and of Saint Mary His Mother, Hill Street, Wellington.