Page 21 - rigneymaster

One Man’s Goldfield: the story of the Horseshoe Bend Diggings, William Rigney and Somebody’s Darling

Table 3 Teviot Communicants Roll Book: Horseshoe Bend 1868 - 1911
Adam A Stevenson miner
Francis Pringle shepherd
E Pringle
Thomas Ewart
Mrs J Ewart
Robert Doherty
Mr R Stewart miner
Miss E I Stewart miner
Mr Robert Stewart miner
Mr Douglas Stewart
Mrs Cullen
Mrs Gunton
Mary Knarston Conner
Mary Jane Conner

In 1881 the church was used as a private dwelling by Mr Ridd, a miner. Some of
those referred to above may have arrived after 1881 and been members of the Teviot
Parish who lived at Horseshoe Bend, rather than attendees of the Horseshoe Bend
church.

William Rigney's Catholicism in no way prevented him from helping fellow residents of
the Bend to attend the protestant church. His help was recorded by R T Stewart:

"In 1868 on the occasion of a baptismal service in the little church at Horseshoe Bend
by Dr Copeland, a miner named William Rigney ferried us across the river, and
accompanied my parents to the church, where John and I were christened. Mother
18
often mentioned his kindness on that day, for he carried me part of the way."

Alexander Don recorded the location of the church as "perhaps five miles down the
river from the present township of Millers Flat, on the east side of the river, just below
where the Minzion Burn from the Lammerlaws joins the Molyneux, and about opposite
19
a nameless grave below the rail siding at Rigney." The rail siding referred to was
originally outside the stone house before being moved to its present location at the
gate of the farmhouse.

Don's description fits with Mrs McElwain's knowledge of the church's location. Mrs
McElwain remembers that, although the church was no longer standing when she was
a child at the Bend, the site which it had occupied was still obvious and known to the
older residents. This site was down the lane beyond the present farmhouse and
slightly higher up the hill.

Link to site of Horseshoe Bend Church in Google maps

18 Stewart, R.T. in Webster, A.H.H. "Teviot Tapestry. A history of the Roxburgh - Millers Flat District" Otago Centennial Historical Publications. 1948
19 Don, Alexander "Memories of The Golden Road, A History of the Presbyterian Church in Central Otago" Reed. 1936

© Jeff Robertson 21