Country Churches of NZ 126. Presbyterian Church, Oturehua, Central 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.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, OTUREHUA

I drew the bell tower of the Presbyterian Church, Oturehua because I was fascinated by its leaning cross. Could a magpie have flown into it? Or a top-dressing aircraft? Maybe some local schoolboy had taken a pot shot at it with his .22?

When I asked why, I was told: 'The short answer is that the cross leans over because all attempts to straighten it have so far been unsuccessful...'

Perhaps, as the residents of Pisa discovered long ago, there might be some tourism value in leaving it as it is.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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