Our Lady of the Assumption, Auckland

Our Lady of the Assumption (also known as The Church of the Assumption) is a heritage-listed Catholic church located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located in the suburb of Onehunga on the corner of Church Street and Galway Street. Built between 1887–9 the church is situated within a 1840s denominational cemetery which houses the gravesites of many of Onehunga's fencible colonial settlers.

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption
Our Lady of the Assumption, November 2023
Location	Onehunga, Auckland
Denomination	Catholic
Website	https://onehungacatholic.org.nz/
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Clergy
Priest(s)	Rev Fr. Talipope Vaifale MF Rev Consadine Toleafoa MF
Heritage New Zealand – Category 1
Designated	4 April 1983

The notable landmark of the Onehunga suburb has historical links to key members in the Catholic Diocese of Auckland such as Bishop John Edmund Luck (1848–1896), Priest of the Order of Saint Benedict and Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand who lies in the church vault.

History

Signage at Church of Our Lady of Assumption, 2023

Interior of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, 1896

Our Lady of the Assumption and the surrounding churchyard are located in Onehunga on land formerly occupied by Māori iwi Te Waiohua and Ngāti Whātua.

In 1848 a Catholic cemetery was dedicated on the corner of Church Street and Galway Street. The first Catholic parish priest, Father Clery was assigned by 1850 and in 1851 a small wooden church was built named St Mary's. In 1858 Father Clery was succeeded by Father James Paul who made plans for the much larger and newly named Church of our Lady of the Assumption. In 1889 the church was complete.

In 1889 The New Zealand Herald reported the opening of the Church of the Assumption, Onehunga:

To-morrow morning, the now Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption, at Onehunga, will be solemnly consecrated by His Lordship Bishop Luck, the service commencing at eleven o'clock. The sermon on the occasion will be preached by the Very Rev. Father Alphonsus O'Neill, Superior in Sydney of the Passionist Order. Mozart's grand composition, "Twelfth Mass", will be sung by the choir. In the evening, after vespers, Father O'Neill will again preach.

The new building stands upon an excellently- situated site, immediately opposite the present church. It is built of brick, with ground mortar, the foundation being of bluestone, quarried from the site. The church is in the Gothic style and contains a nave, transepts, chancel, oratory, sacristy, tower, and porches. The dimensions are: Total length, 96 feet; width of nave and transepts, 30 feet; height of walls, 20 feet, and to apex of roof, 46 feet. The floor is of concrete, finished with Portland cement, the aisles being laid with tiles; the roof is open-timbered one, covered with galvanised iron. There is a three-light traceried and six-lancet windows in the nave, and a five-light window, also traceried in each of the transepts. In the chancel, above the altar, is a three-light traceried window, filled with stained glass, with a representation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. This window, which is of beautiful design, was imported from Tours, France, and is the work of Leopold Lobin. A handsome Communion rail divides the sanctuary from the body of the church, and at the eastern end of the sanctuary is an oratory for the use of the Sisters of Mercy when attending mass. A choir gallery, to which access is secured by a staircase in the tower, has been erected at the southern end of the church. The sacristy is immediately at the rear of the building. The tower at present is only built as high as the main walls, but when it is completed, with spire, the total height will be 117 feet, and the appearance of the church will then be exceedingly neat and tasteful, especially as it is intended to finish the outer walls with Portland cement. the church will be lighted by gas, there being four sunlights and the usual large number of brackets.

The architects were Messrs. E. Mahoney and Sons, whose work has been performed in the excellent style characteristic of that firm. Mr. Kemp was the contractor for the building, whilst Mr J. Henderson did the glaziers's work, the gas-fitting being placed by Mr. Randall.

— New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9307, 9 March 1889

Architecture

Designed in the Gothic Revival-style, Our Lady Of Assumption is a Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga certified site. The church was designed by the prominent architectural firm Edward Mahoney and Sons and took two years to build between 1887–1889.

William Kemp (1984–1906), prominent community member, builder, bricklayer and part of the Auckland Catholic community was responsible for the construction of the church. Born in England, Kemp was an bricklaying apprentice on the restorative build of the Tower of London and brought a level level of expertise to builds across Onehunga and wider Auckland.

With many references of Early English Gothic architecture such as its steep roof and traditional lancet shaped windows the Our Lady of the Assumption exemplifies the Gothic Revival-style can be seen too at Pleasant Villa on Onehunga's Grey Street.

The original interior altar was made of marble and ornamental stone but has since been replaced.

Cemetery site

The Church of Our Lady of Assumption is located next to a Catholic cemetery. The cemetery was established 40 years before the Church and houses the gravesites of many of Onehunga's early fencible settler community. Some notable headstones include Mary Barry (nee Mahoney) (1807–1998), daughter of Edward Mahoney of architectural firm Edward Mahoney and Sons and parish priest Rev William Henry Mahoney (1857–1925), also son of architect Edward Mahoney and the first New Zealand-born Catholic to be raised to priesthood.

Current Parish

As of 2014, The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption has an active parish with services in Samoan and Tongan. The church holds a multicultural Mass on the fifth Sunday of the month. A service in September 2018 saw worship in English, Samoan, Tongan, Rotuman, Slovakian, Afrikaans, Filipino and Tamil.

Mass times

• Saturday Mass 8am, Reconciliation 8:30am, 5pm, Vigil Mass 6pm.
• Sunday Mass 8:30am, 10am, Youth Mass (4th Sunday) 10am, Samoan Mass (3rd Sunday) 11:30am, Tongan Mass (2nd Sunday) 12pm, Adoration 5pm.
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Mass 7:30am.
• Friday Mass 7:30am, 7pm (1st Friday).

News coverage

In March 1934 thieves unlawfully entered the Church through forced entry and stole two gilded sacred vessels, leaving behind three silver vessels. The burglary was widely reported throughout multiple National newspapers. Reporters concluded that the thieves must have mistaken the vessels for solid gold, it was also described that the vessels were valued at 30 pounds.

In 2019 author Mike Ledingham, alongside his brothers Gerad and Chris, wrote a book, The Catholic Boys sharing their experiences of sexual abuse in the Catholic church as children. Ledingham and his brothers were victims of the late Father Francis Green, an authority figure at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.

In 2024 the Onehunga Community News reported that three marked graves had been uncovered at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. The two other graves were found next to Bishop John Edmund Luck's grave and belong to original parish priest of Onehunga, Monsignor James Paul (d. 31 March 1905) and builder of the church, William John Kemp (d. 21 January 1906). The graves were rediscovered by Giles Carpet Ltd who reported that the graves were covered around 70 years ago by vintage cork titles and carpet. Restoration on the graves was done by Jacobsen Headstones.