Country Churches of NZ 109. St. Mary's, Palmerston, Otago

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 MARY'S, PALMERSTON

This endearing little church was built in 1864 but not opened until 1872. Why the long gap is a mystery, as many of the church's records have been lost or destroyed, but I presume ‘opened' means consecrated.

It's described as pseudo-Gothic, and is made of concrete with brick in-fill and a veneer of local stone (from Kakanui, I'll bet). It has a Georgian interior with fine east and west windows by Donald Harman of Dunedin.

By juggling an occasional visiting Dunedin vicar, a local part-time lay minister, and a retired preacher from Waikouaiti, the small congregation still manages services most Sundays.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.