Country Churches of NZ 30. St. John's, Te Awamutu, Waikato

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, TE AWAMUTU

Under its roof of distressed shingles, St John's is fighting a brave battle with 'progress' beside the busy highway.

Cracked tombstones have been salvaged and laid horizontally into cement, which is a good idea for beating vandals but a shame that it has to be that way. Fortunately a memorial installed by the New Zealand Government to the memory of Maori heroes who died in the battles of Hairini and Orakau in 1864 is untouched.

It's no accident that St John's, built in 1854, looks like St Paul's at Hairini - they were both designed by the same man, Reverend John Morgan.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
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Country Churches of NZ 28. St. Paul's, Hairini, Waikato

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, HAIRINI

It was a gorgeous day for a wedding and one was about to start at St Paul's, Hairini, when I arrived. Wedding guests were all dressed up. It was mid-afternoon, shadows were lengthening, and a light breeze was rustling through a flimsy silver birch.

The church rises above rolling farmland. I left out the trees and the view to reveal the simple elegance of the 1856 Anglican mission church, which was designed by Reverend John Morgan.

A survivor of the Waikato wars, it is the only building remaining from the time when this area was a major centre of Maori agriculture.

© DON DONOVAN 

donovan@ihug.co.nz

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