Country Churches of NZ 54. St. Francis of Assissi, Bideford, 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.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISSI, BIDEFORD

At first I almost ruled it out because it seemed too simple. But the day was perfect and the church shimmered in blinding sunlight. And that little belfry - if you can call it that - has a special merit.

St Francis of Assisi is on the road from Masterton to Bideford a hamlet whose name was changed from Upper Taueru by an expatriate Devonian minister. It was built in 1875 of pit-sawn, adzed pine with totara shingles (they're still there, under the iron) by locals, under the direction of an immigrant German tradesman, Emil Grapengetor.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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