Community of the Sacred Name facts for kids
The Community of the Sacred Name is a special place in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is a convent and a chapel where a group of Anglican nuns live and worship. This historic site has been an important part of Christchurch for over a century, providing a quiet space for prayer and community work.
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How the Community Started
The idea for this community began with Churchill Julius, who was the second Anglican bishop of Christchurch. He really wanted to have a group of nuns in the city. So, a woman named Edith Mellish came all the way from London, England, in August 1893.
Edith Mellish started the first group, which was called the Community of the Sisters of Bethany. In 1895, the sisters found a new home on Barbadoes Street. This was the beginning of their long history in Christchurch.
The Buildings of the Convent
Over time, several buildings were built at the corner of Barbadoes and St Asaph Streets.
- The first two buildings were known as Deaconess House.
- The very first building was a simple one-story design. It was created by Benjamin Mountfort, a very famous architect in New Zealand. He helped give Christchurch its unique look.
- A second building was added in 1900. This one had two stories and was built next to the first one. It was designed by Cyril Mountfort, who was Benjamin Mountfort's son. This building also held the chapel.
- The third building was built between 1911 and 1912. It faced Barbadoes Street and was designed by John Goddard Collins. This large, two-story brick building stood out and hid the older buildings behind it.
In 1912, the sisters changed their name to the Community of the Sacred Name. They did this to avoid being confused with another similar group.
Damage and Restoration
Sadly, the large brick building was badly damaged during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Because of the damage, it had to be taken down.
After the earthquake, the sisters sold the remaining wooden buildings to a charity called 'Home and Family'. These older buildings needed a lot of repair work. Heritage New Zealand, an organisation that protects historic places, helped arrange the restoration. Many groups worked together to fix the buildings. These included Heritage New Zealand itself, the Lotteries Commission, and the Christchurch City Council. They all helped pay the NZ$2.9 million needed for the repairs.
Heritage Listing
The buildings of the Community of the Sacred Name are very important. They are officially listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I item. This means they are places of "special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value." They received this special listing on 15 February 1990, with registration number 4387.
