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.
EAST TAKAKA CHURCH, TAKAKA
A plaque on the wall of the East Takaka Church reads: 'Although built for Church of England worship this church has always been available to other protestant religions. It is thought that the first service was held here on 5 November 1868'.
There's a vagueness about that wording and although the church is not very old its history is imprecise. This is thought to be because its early records were destroyed when the family of its first trustee, William Handcock, died of scarlet fever.
Apart from a characterful disarray of some tombstones, the church and surroundings are in far better shape than its life story.
