Country Churches of NZ 70. St. Patrick's, Mangaweka, Manawatu

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. PATRICK'S, MANGAWEKA

I had intended to illustrate another Mangaweka church but St Patrick's came as an agreeable and superior alternative.

The church was built in 1899. Its first priest was a Frenchman, Father Lacroix, who had earlier served at St Joseph's, Jerusalem.

Mangaweka was an important railway construction town around the end of the nineteenth century with a disproportionate population of Roman Catholics, especially Irish gangers whose toughened souls no doubt needed substantial weekly purification.

Sadly, the names of its architect and builder are mysteries to me but I wouldn’t be surprised if the ghostly figure of Frederick de Jersey Clere was lurking.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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