The relocation of a memorial stone, which is almost a century old and is considered a long-standing symbol of religious historical events in Samoa, is currently taking place.

The proposal for the renovation of the site was made by the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (CCCS) Apia, which will see John William's monument moved from its current location due to the threat posed to it by Apia's ever-expanding road network. The monument is next to the pavement on one of the country's busiest roads, Beach Road. 

During a site visit to the area by Samoa Observer, workers working on the monument are expected to relocate it closer to the shoreline, which is a few meters away than initially thought. 

Apia Village mayor, Tuiletufuga Fritz Tuiavii confirmed, when contacted by this newspaper that the work on the historical monument is a joint effort between the general CCCS congregation as well as the CCCS Apia congregation with assistance also rendered by the Apia village residents. 

According to the EFKS Apia 130th Anniversary History Facebook page, the JW memorial stone was erected on 7 May 1930 to mark 100 years of Christianity in Samoa and to celebrate the lives of the early missionaries of the London Missionary Society (LMS) whose remains are buried under the CCCS Apia church building in Apia.

Peone Fuimaono and Latu Latai of the EFKS Apia Parish wrote on the church's history and its links to the foundation years of the CCCS in a paper titled "A History of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa Apia Church" for the Samoa Journal of Theology (Volume 2. No. 1 2023), which was published by the Malua Theological College.