Country Churches of NZ 98. St. Stephen's, Peel Forest, Canterbury

 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. STEPHEN’S, PEEL FOREST

Not far from Mt Peel, (see 99, Church of the Holy Innocents) and also in the valley of the Rangitata River, is St Stephen's Church, Peel Forest.

It was built for £272 by Nelson & Coutts of Ashburton in 1885, replacing an earlier church that had blown down in a 'whirlwind'.

The bell tower, which I particularly like, was added in 1915 at the same time as the 'lean-to' vestry on the west front of the church.

There's enough money in a kitty given by bequest for the church to be replaced by a stone one but local parishioners have decided to stick with what they know and love.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.