Churches in New Zealand

I had long wanted to write a brief illustrated summary of New Zealand church history for this page. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time and the pictures I have taken so far are not the most representative of the New Zealand church. So I decided to instead put up a few pictures that reflect my more personal involvement with the church in New Zealand.

Massey Methodist Church may be similar to many suburban churches in New Zealand: a small congregation, no dedicated minister, but people that work together to make church happen. The church buildings were erected in the 1960s. In the early 1990s the church was destroyed by fire but restored with the help of the community. Today the church struggles on with ever fewer attendees, but it is still there in the north-western suburbs of Auckland. [Dec 2006]

Mt Albert Methodist Church has a nice wooden building situated near the centre of this Auckland suburb. The theology of its members may tend towards the liberal end, but more so in terms of the church as a whole, not the Methodist church in New Zealand. Immigrants make up a large proportion of the congregation, but it has always enjoyed the support of some faithful families. It is one of the few Methodist churches left with a decent choir and if you want to hear the music of John Rutter, there's no better place than Mt Albert Methodist Church. [Dec 2006]
St Brides Anglican Church in Mauku is part of the parish of Waiuku, south of Auckland. I have only ever seen this pioneer church from the outside. Situated on a little knoll not far from the railway line to the Glenbrook steel mill, the church is surronded by a graveyard with mature oak and cabbage trees. Graves from the 19th to the 21st century are spread around the grassy knoll. Recently a small catering building has been built near the church. [Mar 2009]
St James Anglican Church in Lower Hutt is a relatively modern concrete building. It is located not far from the Lower Hutt city centre and right next to the park and former cemetry. A few of the gravestones still remain. The high roof of the church conveys a grandiose atmosphere despite the bare concrete sides. A good choir, robed in blue, sings at most church services, accompanied by a quality organ.
This is the main Anglican church out in the Hutt valley and feels like a mixture between an inner-city and a suburban church. [Mar 2004]
On to the South Island. This little Catholic church used to sit in Glentunnel in Canterbury. The last time I noticed it, the church was up for tender for removal. It had be deconsecrated, just a building, no longer a church. Is this where the rural church is headed? [Feb 2006]
I will not put up pictures of all the Timaru churches on this page. Once upon a time, there was a website providing information about 19 Timaru churches, but as it had rapidly become out of date I decided not to continue it.

The one church that I definitely cannot miss out is St Philip and All Saints in Marchwiel, Timaru. It is the only Anglican Local Shared Ministry in urban Timaru. Everyone has to get involved somewhere in this small community.
Here is the interior of St Philips - the All Saints chappel is off towards the right. As in so many other churches, the text for hymns is projected onto a screen at the front of the church. It may not be immediately obvious, but there on the right is the best electric piano I've ever played on. [Feb 2007]

The most grandiose church in Timaru is without doubt the Catholic Sacred Heart Basilica. [Mar 2005]
Inland from Timaru is the locality of Cave. Just across the hill there's this beautiful stone church. St David's Presbyterian was built to commemorate the pioneers of this distrcit. The church has a wonderful old world feel to it and is also used for weddings. [Mar 2008]
But an even more famous stone church is even further inland - across Burkes Pass at Lake Tekapo. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a New Zealand landmark, found on many calendars and photographed by thousands of tourists each year. Sitting right at the lakeshore, a window behind the alter allows unhindered views across the stunning landscape. [Sep 2007]
Another of my favourite churches is the Anglican church in Maheno, south of Oamaru. I've never been inside, but it looks striking from the outside. For a view with a train, see the Dunedin Railway Station Centenary gallery. [Dec 2004]
Finally, church with a difference. The Salvation Army in Winton, Southland, has a modern building. As part of their outreach to the rural communities in the area they have commissioned this activity bus. This was the occasion of its presentation. The double decker bus had been imported from the United Kingdom and then refurbished in New Zealand. So for once working for a shipping agency went hand in hand with doing something for the church. [Apr 2005]