I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.
ST JOHN'S, TE AWAMUTU
Under its roof of distressed shingles, St John's is fighting a brave battle with 'progress' beside the busy highway.
Cracked tombstones have been salvaged and laid horizontally into cement, which is a good idea for beating vandals but a shame that it has to be that way. Fortunately a memorial installed by the New Zealand Government to the memory of Maori heroes who died in the battles of Hairini and Orakau in 1864 is untouched.
It's no accident that St John's, built in 1854, looks like St Paul's at Hairini - they were both designed by the same man, Reverend John Morgan.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment