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 Baptist church located near the corner of Queen Street and Karangahape Road, at the edge of Auckland central business district in New Zealand. It is connected to the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.
Contents
History of the Tabernacle
How it Started
The Auckland Baptist Tabernacle began in 1855. It was started by Richard Barcham Shalders and 14 other people. At that time, Auckland was a very new town. By the late 1860s, the church had grown. They built a good-sized chapel on Wellesley Street. The church became very popular.
A New Building is Needed
In 1881, Thomas Spurgeon became the pastor. He was the son of the famous preacher C. H. Spurgeon. Under his leadership, the church grew even faster. Soon, the Wellesley Street Chapel was too small. Even the Symonds Street Choral Hall, which they used next, became too small.
So, the church decided to build a much bigger place. 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 ended up facing Queen Street. This meant people could see its grand entrance from the harbour.
Building the Grand Tabernacle
Even though it was one of the biggest buildings in Auckland, it was built very quickly. Construction started in 1884 and finished in 1885. It took only one year to build! The new church had amazing acoustics, meaning sound traveled very well inside. Its main hall was also the largest room in the city. It could hold more than 1500 people.
The building officially opened on May 12, 1885. A special collection was taken that day. It raised the last £100 needed, so the church was completely debt-free.
Design and Special Features
A local architect named Edmund Bell designed the building. He based his design on the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. It has a grand entrance with columns, similar to the ancient Pantheon in Rome. Today, Heritage New Zealand lists the building as a Category I Historic Place. This means it's a very important historical site.
Thomas Spurgeon had a twin brother named Charles. Charles was a pastor at a church in Greenwich, England. Greenwich is famous for keeping time. So, the Greenwich church gave the Auckland Tabernacle a special clock. This clock was made in Greenwich and is still in the main hall today.
Art and Decoration
One of the church leaders who helped build the Tabernacle was Charles Blomfield. He was a sign painter and decorator. His shop was right next to the church. Charles Blomfield is best known for his beautiful landscape paintings. He especially painted the Pink and White Terraces. Charles and his brother Samuel also did the fancy stencil work on the ceiling of the main hall.
