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. MARTIN'S, GREATFORD
My painting gives no hint of the passing showers on that day when, outside St Martin's, Greatford, I met the great grandson of Major William Jarvis Willis who donated the land and retained the designer, Frederick de Jersey Clere.J. and A. Broadbelt built the church.
It opened on 30 July 1882, but it wasn't consecrated until 1885 as Bishop Hadfield had refused his blessing because Willis had married Eliza Riddiford, sister of his deceased wife, Amelia. (Such a union was against New Zealand law so they'd done the deed in Australia.)
Only after Willis's death in 1884 did the Bishop, having given his pique with the Major precedence over the spiritual needs of the rest of its congregation, sanctify the building.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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