Leaves From My Sketchbooks. 57. Church of The Epiphany Gebbies Valley, Christchurch

This drawing dates to the early 1960s when I had a steady hand. As you age and your body lets you down you have to compensate through speed and impression rather than the precision of earlier years. It's no bad thing; but it leaves a yearning regret.

My late friend Derek Margetts (who lived next to this church) and I often went sketching together and he taught me a lot. We sat side by side on gravestones as we did these renderings in failing light. Afterwards we compared notes while supping some cheese spuds and a Bavarian bitter and by the fire in his cottage. Great days.

© DON DONOVAN. donovan@ihug.co.nz 
www. don-donovan.blogspot.co.nz
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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
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