| St Bride's Church | |
|---|---|
 St Bride's Church, 2014 | |
| Location | Mauku |
| Address | Findlay Road, Mauku |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | https://stbridesmauku.wordpress.com/ |
| History | |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Consecrated | 22 February 1885 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Reverend Arthur Guyon Purchas |
| Style | Selwyn style (Gothic Revival) |
| Years built | 1860–1861 |
| Groundbreaking | 1860 |
| Construction cost | c. £300 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | Slightly under 20 metres (66 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Auckland |
| Parish | Parish of Mauku |
| Designated | 2 February 1990 |
| Reference no. | 81 |
St Bride's Church is a historic Anglican church in Mauku, New Zealand. St Bride's was constructed in 1861 and was the first church in the Franklin area. It served as an important military outpost during the Invasion of the Waikato. The church was consecrated in 1885 and has a category 1 listing with Heritage New Zealand.
Description
editSt Bride's sits atop an elevated site, this along with it's spire helps it stand out as a landmark. The church is a wooden Selwyn style church and follows traditional ecclesiological design philosophies in it's proportions and has exposed rafters and trusses. Most of the church is constructed from kauri. Two original oil lamps are located in the interior. The cusped windows have trefoils which are in pairs of twos except for the chancel where they are pairs of three. The belfry has louvered windows which also have trefoils.[1]
Connections to St Bride's, London
editOne of the founders of St Bride's Church had been a member of St Bride's Church in Fleet Street, London. The London church had also sent a donation helping to establish the church in Mauku. It was later decided to name the new church after St Bride's in Fleet Street. In 1941 the Mauku church sent £100 and food parcels to St Bride's, Fleet Street following the London Blitz which severely damaged the Fleet Street church. During St Bride's centennial in 1961 the vicar, reverend, and two wardens were made liverymen of the Guild of St Bride, a guild sanctioned by Edward III in 1375. St Bride's Church, Mauku now displays the medallions they were awarded.[2]
History
edit
Anglican worship in the inchoate settlement of Mauku was initially conducted in private homes and later in a slab hut near the site of St Bride's. Prior to the construction of St Bride's Church — Mauku was visited by George Augustus Selwyn, Robert Maunsell, John Coleridge Patteson, and Arthur Guyon Purchas, who all provided services at different points in time. On 22 November 1858 it was decided a permanent church should be constructed and a committee was formed, headed by Dr. Purchas. 3 acres (1.2 ha) was given to Selwyn as a Crown grant for the construction of a church. Dr. Purchas offered to donate £25 towards a spire if the committee chose his design, which they did. Significant contributions were also made by Gore Browne, bishop Selwyn, Patteson, and Sir Duncan Cameron. The fundraising likely would not have met the target without their support given Mauku was a small rural settlement.[2]
In December 1860, construction began and completed on a Sunday, 14 July 1861. The cost was approximately £300.[2] It was the first church to be constructed in the Franklin area.[3] As was common with churches in small rural settlements in New Zealand, it also served Presbyterians and Methodists.[2]
Following the Invasion of the Waikato in July 1863, many isolated European settlements became worried of potential raids from hostile Māori. The women and children of Mauku evacuated to Auckland. The Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society was set up to provide aid and care for some of the refugees from Mauku.[2] and a stockade was constructed around St Bride's to serve as a military outpost. Up to 2,000 men were based at the church at one point. 54 loopholes were cut into the church during this period and these still remain.[1] No battle took place at the church, although a deadly battle took place just 2 km (1.2 mi) south of the church.
In 1884 a pulpit, font, and stained glass windows were installed. The following year on 22 February the church was consecrated by bishop William Cowie.[1] The lack of earlier consecration may have been out of a desire to allow other denominations to use the church.[2]
Following the enfranchisement of women in 1893, a motion was brought up to the diocesan synod by the Mauku synod representative, Heywood Crispe, that would have seen women enfranchised in the Anglican church. Ultimately it was amended and never took effect.[2]
The puriri block foundations was replaced with concrete in 1953.[1]
Legacy
editThe design of St Bride's Church has been described as simple and elegant by architect Peter Lewis Sheppard. The spire has been described as being well proportioned and giving 'character and distinction' to the building.[2]
St Bride's Church is listed as a category 1 historic place with Heritage New Zealand.[1] Would be ideal to have an independent source here, the Anglican historical society has it listed as a B category place suggesting it was upgraded
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "St Bride's Church, Mauku". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Limbrick, Warren (April 2011). "Saint Bride's Church, Mauku: A Frontier Church in the Midst of Conflict" (PDF). Anglican Historical Society newsletter (46). The Anglican Historical Society of New Zealand.
- ^ Derbyshire, Noel William (2016). Serving the Community: a history of the Pukekohe Anglican Parish. Wily Publications. p. 35. ISBN 978-1-927167-30-4.