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. AUGUSTINE'S, CLARKVILLE
Old English churches are, in my mind, inextricably associated with yew and holly. I still remember my small boy's thrill at seeing blackbirds' light blue speckled eggs in holly hedge nests, and I recall reading somewhere that yew wood, being a vital material for long bows but also being toxic to cattle, was grown within the walls of the churchyard for safety.I'm sure St Augustine's grows both yew and holly for tradition's sake.
The church was built in 1860 and claims not only to be one of the oldest church buildings in Canterbury but that its diamond-paned windows were brought from England on one of the first four ships - perhaps stowed in the hold with holly and yew seedlings?
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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