Country Churches of NZ 113. St. John's, Waikouaiti, 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. JOHN'S, WAIKOUAITI, OTAGO

I'm a cheat! When I did this watercolour of St. John's it was being re-decorated and the dull buff walls were about to be painted white with green windows and doors. So I anticipated the decorators by a day or two.

Built in 1858, it's the oldest Anglican church in Otago - many of the tombstones around it are even older. The land was given by Johnny Jones of nearby Matanaka who also paid to have it built.

It is claimed to be B.W. Mountfort's architecture but I've been expertly advised that there is neither proof of his authorship nor does it fit his style.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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