Country Churches of NZ 145. St. John's, Hira, Nelson

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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.

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St. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, HIRA

On the roadside between Nelson and Havelock, St John's Anglican Church looks neat and fresh in its garden churchyard.

Where it now stands was nearly the scene of a land battle between Maori chief Paremata and Arthur Wakefield of the New Zealand Company. It was sorted out by the Reverend C. L. Reay and his wife (see St John's both at Rangitukia [39] and Wakefield [143]), who offered themselves as hostages.

Oddly, there's a chimney poking from the vestry roof at the other end - it's nothing special so I didn't draw it but I don't recall having seen one on any other church on my travels. The perky little church, designed by R. Black, was built by John Scott and consecrated on 27 December 1888.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
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