Futuna Chapel Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Futuna Chapel

General information
Type	Chapel
Location	Friend St, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Construction started	1958
Completed	1961
Owner	Friends of Futuna Trust
Design and construction
Architect	John Scott
Awards and prizes	NZIA Gold Medal (1968) NZIA 25-year award (1986)

Heritage New Zealand – Category I
Designated:	28-May-1999
Reference #:	7446

The Futuna Chapel is a very special building in Wellington, New Zealand. A famous architect named John Scott designed it.

The chapel was built by the brothers of the Society of Mary. It is named after Futuna Island in the Pacific. A missionary named Peter Chanel died there in 1841, and the chapel honors him. The chapel has won important awards, like the New Zealand Institute of Architects gold medal in 1968. It is also listed as a Category 1 Historic Site by the Historic Places Trust.

History of Futuna Chapel
Where the Chapel is Located
How Futuna Chapel Was Built
Why Futuna Chapel is Special
Current State of the Chapel
- Finding the Missing Sculpture
- Saving the Chapel for the Future
Images for kids
See also

History of Futuna Chapel

The Society of Mary started a center in Karori, Wellington, in 1948. They used an old house for this. In 1958, they asked architect John Scott to design a chapel for their retreat center.

The brothers of the Society of Mary built the chapel themselves in 1961. They did most of the work. Only an electrician was hired from outside to help.

Where the Chapel is Located

The Futuna Chapel was first built at 62-66 Friend Street in Karori, Wellington. It is set back from the main street. You enter the building from its northwest side.

The chapel was placed between three other buildings. These included an office building and two places where people could stay.

How Futuna Chapel Was Built

The floors of the chapel are made of concrete slabs. Inside, they are covered with flat stones. The walls are made of concrete and concrete blocks. Both the inside and outside walls have a rough plaster finish. Some concrete block walls are left uncovered.

The roof is made of timber (wood). It used to have special asbestos shingles. A large wooden post in the middle supports the main roof. Wooden beams and planks are visible on the ceiling. The triangular windows high up are made of clear and colored plastic. The benches (pews) inside have concrete supports and wooden seats.

Why Futuna Chapel is Special

The Futuna Chapel is important because John Scott mixed many different building ideas. He combined old traditions with modern styles.

Māori and European Ideas

The central wooden post in the chapel is like the main pole in a traditional Māori meeting house, called a wharenui. The steep shape of the roof also looks like the entrance porch of a wharenui.

The chapel also shows ideas from famous European architects. For example, the rough concrete walls and exposed beams are similar to buildings by Le Corbusier. You can see these ideas in his churches like Ronchamp and Sainte Marie de La Tourette.

Modern Design and Craftsmanship

John Scott made sure you could clearly see where different materials joined together. He also showed how the beams extended past their supports. The building uses special patterns and measurements. This connects it to both modern and classical architecture.

The roof structure is visible inside the chapel. You can see how it is supported, like in old Gothic churches. The large amount of wood used for the roof shows off the amazing carpentry skills. This was common in New Zealand houses designed by architects in the 1960s and 70s.

A Book About the Chapel

A book called 'Voices of Silence (New Zealand’s Chapel of Futuna)' was written about the building in 1987. Russell Walden, a professor from Victoria University, wrote it. He believed the chapel blended Māori and European architectural ideas. He said it was a modernist building with geometric shapes. But it also had parts like a marae, such as the big center pole and sloping eaves. Walden thought John Scott created a unique mix of styles.

Current State of the Chapel

In 2000, the Society of Mary no longer needed the Futuna Retreat. They sold it to a builder named Art Potter. The buildings around the chapel were removed. New houses were built there instead.

The chapel itself was saved from being torn down by a local plan. While the new houses were being built, the chapel was used to store building materials. Most of the chapel's original parts are still in good shape. However, a wooden sculpture of the Crucifixion by Jim Allen went missing.

Finding the Missing Sculpture

In September 2012, the police found the missing sculpture on a farm. It was in the Taranaki area. The sculpture was put back in the chapel in early 2013. It was first repaired by the National Museum of New Zealand.

Saving the Chapel for the Future

Many people were worried about the chapel's future. This led to the creation of the Friends of Futuna Charitable Trust. Simon Mclellan helped start this group. In 2006, the Trust bought the chapel and its land.

The Trust has a plan to fix and improve the building. They want to make sure it can be enjoyed as it was designed. There are some challenges, like rot in some windows. Also, the original roof shingles were replaced with metal tiles. The Trust is looking for a better roofing solution. An accessible toilet was recently added. This allows more events to be held at the chapel.