Country Churches of NZ 107. St. Andrew's, Maheno, 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. ANDREWS, MAHENO

Slightly reminiscent of Cecil Wood's St Paul's at Tai Tapu (see 97) and built for much the same reason - as a family memorial - the Church of St. Andrew at Maheno blushes with pride on its manicured lawns above the Kakanui River. Just look at that baronial door!

The church was built in 1938 by the Tasmanian Nichols family, who owned the Kuriheka Estate from where its russet blocks were quarried. Redder masonry came from Redcliffs near Sumner, with Oamaru limestone for the window surrounds.

Incorporated into its walls are stones collected from old English cathedrals. The handmade, glazed plum tiles were from Sydney.

The architecture was developed from Cecil Wood's sketches by Richard Harman (see the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo) who added the tower to house bells and organ loft.

© DON DONOVAN 
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 97. St. Paul's, Tai Tapu, 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. PAUL’S, TAI TAPU

'Wet day. Tourists' coach pulls up; a man and woman get out while others watch them from windows. They run to church, pan and tilt with video cameras, nod to each other and run back to coach which roars away leaving a blue cloud of exhaust. Five minutes flat! Another tick on the schedule.' (SKETCHBOOK NOTE 2/11/01)

Built from locally quarried stone, and standing with great dignity in its garden of old English trees and emerald lawns, St Paul's complements the quiet comfort of Tai Tapu perfectly.

It was built in 1930 on the site of an 1876 wooden church. The base of the sundial on the lawn in front is the font from that old church and stands on the spot it originally occupied.

The 'new' church, designed by Cecil Wood of Christchurch (who was responsible for the original designs of Wellington Cathedral), was erected by Sir Robert Heaton-Rhodes in memory of his wife Jessie and presented as a gift to the people of the district.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 87. St. David'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.

ST. DAVID’S, CUST

Not far along the road from St. James's (86) but built much later, in 1935, is the Presbyterian St David's Union Church.

As with St James's, it was detail that caught my eye - this time the central bell tower, which seems to shrug into the roof giving the whole structure a fortress-like stability.

Its windows and embellishments are refreshingly Art Deco, reminiscent of some cinemas built in that era.

Designed by Cecil Wood (whose more traditional work can be seen in some of the Christ's College buildings) and built by Wadey & Efford for £1300, it supplanted an 1885 church.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
.