Country Churches of NZ 53. Church of the Good Shepherd, Tinui, Wairarapa

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.

THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, TINUI

The Church of the Good Shepherd,Tinui, while often described as a 'Clere' church was designed by John Swan, who worked with Frederick de Jersey Clere and who obviously absorbed his style hence the noble belfry.
 
The church was built in 1902.

My visit was on 26 March 2001 when I made this note: 'Inner door of studded red felt a little threadbare but imposing. Smell of incense, warm and welcoming. Walls hold many small, brass commemorative plaques. Fleur-de-lis carpet (all over New Zealand there are churches with Feltex fleur-de-lis patterned carpets; the device represents the trinity - as do trefoil carvings, windows and tapestries).
‘The lych gate plaque reads: "This lych gate was erected in 1983 by the descendants of Edward Swartz, Robert and John Frederick sons of archdeacon Robert Maunsell who took up Tinui Station in 1859. "'

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
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