New Zealand Odyssey: St. Patrick's Church, Akaroa

'New Zealand Odyssey', published in 1989 by Heinemann, was authored by me, Don Donovan (who did the text and illustrations) and Euan Sarginson, who did the photography and design. In this series of blog posts, I will publish some of my drawings.

 

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There's a lot of joy in the design of this church by Maxwell Bury, architect. I mean, just look at those barge boards, they're an inspiration and almost a promise that religious observance doesn't have to be solemn. I did this painting in 1987 but I know that the building hasn't changed since then. It was built in 1865 and added to in 1886 and 1893 when the tower was built.

One of Maxwell Bury's instructions to the builders was: 'Piles should be charred to prevent decay... windows will be made by cutting the shape out of the wall planks...' I can't imagine any work like that being permitted in the 2000s but I'll bet the timber didn't rot and the building doesn't leak!

© DON DONOVAN 
donovan@ihug.co.nz

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Country Churches of NZ 93. St. Patrick's, Akaroa, 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. PATRICK'S, AKAROA

When I went inside St Patrick's on that mild November day I found every door and window thrown open. The church - unusual because of its unique 'cake-frill' bargeboards - was having a face-lift. Inside smelled of new paint; the decorator's radio, liberally spotted with old paint, blared secular pop to Akaroa and the world.

When it was built in 1865 it was a simpler structure, the sanctuary, sacristy and porch were added in 1886, and the squat tower was built in 1893 to accommodate a bell cast in Anderson's foundry in Christchurch.

The architect was Maxwell Bury, Benjamin Mountfort's partner. Among his specifications were: 'Piles should be charred to prevent decay... it is not proposed to plane any of the timber... windows will be made by simply cutting the shape out of the wall planks...'

Outside there's a memorial engraved with Bishop Pompallier's portrait. It records the church's birth as 1864. 'Wrong,' warned the amiable parish priest. 'Don't trust everything you read!'

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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