Country Churches of NZ 32. Christ Church, Kihikihi, 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.

CHRIST CHURCH, KIHIKIHI

A pretty little Anglican church in a peaceful Waikato settlement.

It wasn't always so. This town was the headquarters of Rewi Maniapoto, supreme Maori commander in the 1863-64 war against the British.

The church, designed by Reverend Philip Walsh of Taranaki, came later. It was opened on Monday 5 December 1881 with a packed congregation of 90.

It was locked and silent on the day of my visit, but as I sketched, a young mother and her three children arrived in the summer evening and had a picnic under the trees.

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
.

Country Churches of NZ 23. Pukekohe East Church, South Auckland

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.

PUKEKOHE EAST CHURCH

When I re-visited the Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church on 7 January 2001 it had become the Pukekohe East Church Creative Centre. Were it not for the creative centre it would, I'm sure, have become derelict.

Its simple form belies a romantic history too long to recount here. The wording of the Historic Places Trust plaque at the gate sums it up:

'This church, opened on 5 April 1863, was garrisoned on the outbreak of the Waikato War. An attack by Maori forces on 14 September 1863 was repulsed.'

© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz
.