Oldest S.I. Church

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 1

Oldest S.I. Church

The nave of the present church formed the original church, erected in Darnley Square in 1855. Considered the oldest in use in the South Island and the only church remaining from the pre-Har-per days, it was built by Mr Henry Jones, who worked from specifications drawn up I by Messrs Mountfort and | Luck. Th* plan had been

brought to Kaiapoi by the Rev. John Raven from the first Superintendent of Canterbury, Mr J. E. Fitzgerald. Totara and black pine were supplied by a Mr McKinley from the nearby bush. The building’s total cost was £347 14s sd, of which £325 7s lid was received in subscriptions. The day of dedication is unknown but a Christmas Day service in 1855 is clearly recorded. However, four years Hater the foundation piles became unsafe as the nor'westvers had seriously eroded the sand on the dune. In 1860 the i building was shifted in sections to its present position iin Cass street.

The roof was not disturbed again until 1907, when the wooden shingles were replac-

ed with imported tiles, marked Pierre Sacoman, St. Henry, Marseilles. A number of these tiles were broken during removal yesterday, but the remainder. though mossy, are as good as ever. To avoid a patched appearance, the church authorities would like to locate any unwanted similar tiles, which are now quite unprocurable. After 112 years of southerly storms and borer, with the resultant wood rot, have proved too much for this part of the sarking, which will be replaced with treated pinus. I The church's interior will apIpear undisturbed when the contract is completed. New irimu matchlining will be the same as the original pattern land blend with the old.