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.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS, AMBERLEY
'Church is crammed on to a small section surrounded by houses. The glebe land has been sold off. Difficult angles; hard to appreciate the church because it's so concealed. Doesn't matter, the steeple is glorious! Never heard such noisy blackbirds singing so sweetly.' (SKETCHBOOK NOTE 30/10/01)In 1889, twelve years after the church was built, it blew down because the builder hadn't anchored the ground plates of the nave. The town fathers probably revised their ideas about the necessity of employing building inspectors at that point, while the church elders promptly rebuilt the church to J. C. Maddison's design - this time with additional cross-bracing.
The 1880 tower, a landmark for this north Canterbury farming town, had been secured to the foundations and is thus the oldest part of the church.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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