Country Churches of NZ 103. St. Mary's, Otaio, 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. MARY'S, OTAIO

'Weighty limestone, on hill above Otaio River, course of which marked by vernal green poplars and willows.' (NOTEBOOK, SUNDAY 4/11/2001)

A notice board outside St Mary's, Otaio, reads that services are conducted on the first Sunday of the month at 10.00 am. I arrived at 10.00 and stayed until after 10.30 but there was no sign of life. That is the state of so many country churches - little evidence of priest or congregation.

But the church was not built with the principal intention of serving a needy community; it was Charles Meyer's memorial to his wife, Ellen, who died in 1877. Within a few months he, owner of Blue Cliffs Station, also died but architect Benjamin Mountfort's plans proceeded and the church - by then also a memorial to Meyer - was consecrated in June 1880.

The butterscotch limestone, from Cave in South Canterbury, looks as fresh as if it were newly quarried but corrugated iron has replaced the original slate roof. There is no external foundation stone but at the gate a plaque reads ‘In Memory of Past Parishioners 1880-1960'.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 94. St. Peter's, Teddington, Banks Peninsula

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. PETER'S, TEDDINGTON

Many's the time I've passed St. Peter's on my way to visit friends in Gebbies Valley at the head of Lyttelton Harbour. But I have never seen it looking so fresh as it was on the spring day in 2001 when I illustrated it.

At only 52 square metres, it is the smallest of Benjamin Mountfort's country churches.

It was built on land given by William Gebbie, an early settler, and opened for worship in April 1871 (although it was not consecrated until 7 January 1885). Apart from having its shingles replaced by iron in 1895, it is very much in its original form.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 93. St. Patrick's, Akaroa, Banks Peninsula

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. PATRICK'S, AKAROA

When I went inside St Patrick's on that mild November day I found every door and window thrown open. The church - unusual because of its unique 'cake-frill' bargeboards - was having a face-lift. Inside smelled of new paint; the decorator's radio, liberally spotted with old paint, blared secular pop to Akaroa and the world.

When it was built in 1865 it was a simpler structure, the sanctuary, sacristy and porch were added in 1886, and the squat tower was built in 1893 to accommodate a bell cast in Anderson's foundry in Christchurch.

The architect was Maxwell Bury, Benjamin Mountfort's partner. Among his specifications were: 'Piles should be charred to prevent decay... it is not proposed to plane any of the timber... windows will be made by simply cutting the shape out of the wall planks...'

Outside there's a memorial engraved with Bishop Pompallier's portrait. It records the church's birth as 1864. 'Wrong,' warned the amiable parish priest. 'Don't trust everything you read!'

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 86. St. James's, Cust, 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.

BELFRY OF ST JAMES'S, CUST

St. James's is a lovely old Anglican church built in 1865 to Benjamin Mountfort's plans. His designs were also used to extend the church, adding transept, chancel and vestry in 1874.

I felt that because it rambles almost untidily along the riverbank above the Cust River it would make an unrewarding watercolour, but I thought the slim and elegant detached belfry quite a different matter, its brickwork contrasting nicely against limestone masonry blocks from Mount Somers.

It replaced a weather damaged, wooden structure in 1882. It is said to have one of the best-toned bells in Canterbury - the gift of General Sir Edward Cust, one of the founders of the province.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.