Country Churches of NZ 113. St. John's, Waikouaiti, Otago

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. JOHN'S, WAIKOUAITI, OTAGO

I'm a cheat! When I did this watercolour of St. John's it was being re-decorated and the dull buff walls were about to be painted white with green windows and doors. So I anticipated the decorators by a day or two.

Built in 1858, it's the oldest Anglican church in Otago - many of the tombstones around it are even older. The land was given by Johnny Jones of nearby Matanaka who also paid to have it built.

It is claimed to be B.W. Mountfort's architecture but I've been expertly advised that there is neither proof of his authorship nor does it fit his style.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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Country Churches of NZ 104. St. Augustine's, Waimate, South 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. AUGUSTINE'S, WAIMATE

On past visits to Waimate I had found it impossible to get a full look at St Augustine's but I was fortunate this time, somebody had been tree felling, leaving the complex shapes of campanile, church and lych gate nicely revealed.
B. W. Mountfort designed the heart of the church, which was built in 1872 by Gaitt & Dickison for £350.
The 1880 lantern tower, made of kahikatea, was designed by Reverend C. Coates and when surveyed in 1919 was expected to last only another two years!
The lych gate dates from 1902 and the elegant campanile from 1903; both are memorials to members of the Studholme family of 'Te Waimate'.
Quite some fuss is made of two Pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows from Morris & Company, associated with Sir Edward Burne-Jones. I far prefer the church and its buildings and relished painting them.
© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz