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. PATRICK’S, MACRAES FLAT
Near derelict and deserted, its dark nave a dump for old mattresses, St. Patrick's now stands like a forlorn folly among tall pines.It was de-consecrated around 1998, but its origin is unclear. It dates at least from 1882 for it appears in an apparently accurate watercolour painting of Macraes township dated January 1883.
It was built of plaster-rendered local schist with Oamaru stone facings and is, apart from its decay, unaltered from its original state. One wonders what its fate will be now that it and its auriferous land are owned by a gold mining company.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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