- Richard Barcham Shalders
Richard Barcham Shalders (1824-1914) was a
Baptist preacher, founder of theNew Zealand branch of theYMCA , and founder ofAuckland Baptist Tabernacle .Biography
Childhood
Richard Barcham Shalders was born on
November 24 ,1824 , to Jacob Shalders and Phoebe Shalders (nee Barcham), atWorstead , Norfolk, England. His father owned a grocers and drapery shop, where he worked until moving toLondon at the age of 16. From his youth Shalders was devoutly religious, and it is apparent from his journals that his grandmother played a significant role in guiding him on matters of faith.Dover and London
Shalders failed to find work in London, and instead accepted work at a high-class drapery establishment in
Dover , where he met the woman he was to later marry, Eliza Rooke. He returned to London in August 1846, where he worked for "Morrison, Dillon and Co." for two and a half years. While there he attended aYMCA Bible Class at Sergeant's Inn, 49 Fleet Street, under the leadership of Mr. T. H. Tarlton. He joined the local Baptist church under the pastorate of Rev’dJohn Howard Hinton , who was at the time reputed to be the “greatest and most original thinker in London”. Shalders began prayer meetings at the warehouse, and in February 1849 Shalders left to work for "I. and R. Morley".Emigration to New Zealand
Two and a half years later Shalders decided to emigrate to New Zealand. He and his wife were married on
September 30 ,1851 , and onOctober 19 the newly married couple departed from Gravesend aboard the "“Katherine Stewart Forbes”", reachingAuckland onMarch 9 ,1852 .As the barque rounded the North Cape it almost foundered;
"‘. . . No sound could be heard beside water rushing down into our cabin. (One poor sailor, the
third mate , fell into the sea and was drowned.) The carpenter took an axe and knocked out the bulwarks and freed the decks of water. The ship rose again and we heard voices once more. My thought was: I shall yet stand on the shores of New Zealand to tell of the glorious Gospel of God.’" – Shalders, "Personal Reminiscences"Three and a half months after arriving, on
June 24 , Eliza gave birth to their first child, Eliza, who went on to marry prominent New Zealand surveyorPeter Cheal .Auckland Baptist Tabernacle
Upon arriving in Auckland Shalders began “Youth Scripture Conversational Classes” on the first Sabbath of each month at his home on Queen Street, and later at his new home on Chapel Street. In 1855 he joined with 14 other Auckland residents and founded the
Auckland Baptist Tabernacle . A chapel was erected to seat 350 people on the corner of Federal and Wellesley Streets, and was later extended to seat 500. The pulpit of Auckland Baptist Tabernacle went on to be occupied by famous Baptist preachers such asThomas Spurgeon , son of the greatCharles Spurgeon , and alsoJoseph Kemp , founder of the "New Zealand Bible Training Institute" (nowBible College of New Zealand ).YMCA New Zealand
In 1853, Shalders was invited to a meeting of the
Wesleyan Sunday School Teachers, and there he announced his plans to form a New Zealand branch of the YMCA. Following this he gave a lecture at theMechanics Institute on the rise, progress and influence of the London YMCA, and the issue of this was a resolution to commence an Auckland YMCA. A site was purchased on Durham Street East, and a building erected and opened onSeptember 12 ,1856 by His Excellency the Governor Gore Brown. The association quickly gained a significant following, with daily attendance averaging over 50. The following year Eliza Shalders gave birth to their second child, Alfred Barcham Shalders.The YMCA was met with controversy in 1864, when Shalders was accused of using his influence for the purpose of furthering the interests of his own
Baptist denomination. The accusations were denied, and Shalders survived in his position, however the buildings were burnt to the ground at three o'clock in the morning. A new building was erected in 1866.Under Shalders’ leadership YMCA centres were also established in
Christchurch (1862),Wellington (1866), Nelson (1866),Dunedin (1874) andInvercargill (1876). Each YMCA was autonomous, but shared a common religious orientation – “bible study, religious and moralistic lectures, choirs and evangelical meetings”.Business
Shalders is remembered primarily as the founder of the YMCA and the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, but he was also a very successful businessman. He owned a drapers’ shop at 200 Queen Street, and also had properties at Kapanga Township,
Coromandel ;Huia Saw Mills; and convert|942|acre|km2 at Point Long Nose, Awitu Block.Retirement and Death
Eliza died on
August 31 ,1908 , aged 82, while Richard was still involved on the YMCA Committer. In 1912 he resigned, after 65 years of service to the YMCA, and he died two years later onOctober 1 ,1914 , aged 90.References
* The Barcham Family website: Family History: New Zealand: [http://www.barcham.org.uk/Richard%20Shalders.htm Richard Barcham Shalders]
* Auckland Baptist Tabernacle website: [http://www.tabernacle.org.nz/background.php# History]
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