Auckland Baptist Tabernacle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Auckland Baptist Tabernacle |
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The Auckland Baptist Tabernacle in 2016
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| 36°51′27″S 174°45′41″E / 36.857452°S 174.761466°E | |
| Location | 429 Queen Street, Auckland |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Tabernacle |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Designated | 13 December 1991 |
| Architectural type | Roman Basilica |
| Groundbreaking | Easter Monday 1884 |
| Completed | 12 May 1885 |
| Construction cost | NZ£14,000 |
The Auckland Baptist Tabernacle is a large and historic Baptist church located in Auckland, New Zealand. It stands proudly near the top of Queen Street, close to Karangahape Road, right on the edge of Auckland's main city area. This church is part of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.
Contents
History of the Tabernacle
Early Beginnings (1855-1881)
The Auckland Baptist Tabernacle started in 1855. It was founded by Richard Barcham Shalders and 14 other people. At that time, Auckland was a very new colonial town. By the late 1860s, the church had grown. They built a good-sized chapel on Wellesley Street. The church community became very active and popular.
A New Pastor and a Growing Church (1881-1885)
In 1881, Thomas Spurgeon became the pastor. He was the son of a very famous preacher named Charles Haddon Spurgeon. With Thomas Spurgeon as pastor, the church grew even faster. Soon, the Wellesley Street Chapel was too small. Then, even the Symonds Street Choral Hall, where they met next, became too small.
The church needed a much bigger building. They found a great spot at the top of Queen Street. At first, they planned for the church to face Karangahape Road. But they changed the plans. The main front of the church was built to face Queen Street instead. This meant the grand entrance could be seen all the way from the harbour.
Building a Landmark (1884-1885)
Even though it was one of the biggest buildings in Auckland at the time, it was built very quickly. Construction started in 1884 and finished in just one year, in 1885. The building was designed by a local architect named Edmund Bell. He based his design on the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. It has a similar front with columns, like the ancient Pantheon in Rome.
The church's main hall, called the auditorium, was the largest room in the city. It could hold over 1500 people. It also had excellent acoustics, meaning sound carried very well.
Opening Day and Special Features
The Auckland Baptist Tabernacle officially opened to the public on May 12, 1885. A special collection was taken that day. It raised the last £100 needed to pay for the building. This meant the church was completely debt-free from the start.
Thomas Spurgeon had a twin brother named Charles. Charles was a pastor at a Baptist church in Greenwich, England. Greenwich is famous for its role in timekeeping. So, the Greenwich church gave the Auckland Tabernacle a clock. This clock was made in Greenwich and is still a special feature inside the auditorium today.
Artistic Touches
Charles Blomfield was an important elder in the Baptist church. He strongly supported building the Auckland Tabernacle. Blomfield was a sign writer and interior decorator. His shop was right next to the Tabernacle. He is also well-known for his landscape paintings, especially of the beautiful Pink and White Terraces. Charles and his brother Samuel helped decorate the church. They created the fancy stencil designs on the ceiling of the main auditorium.
Images for kids
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Auckland Baptist Tabernacle around 1910
