Country Churches of NZ 34. St. Andrew's, Coromandel

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. ANDREW'S, COROMANDEL

This the old mother church of the Coromandel Whitianga Presbyterian parish, opened for divine service on 18 May 1873.

This event well preceded the five-year gold boom that started in 1894, when the town's population swelled to bursting then shrank again, leaving the church bruised but intact.

J.C.Young was both architect and builder but such a procrastinator that a James Marshall had to finish the job.

I've painted this church before, delighting in its frontal aspect with its unusual integral triple porch-cum-steeple.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
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