Knox Church, Dunedin facts for kids
Knox Church is a very important building in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is home to the city's second Presbyterian church group. It is also the largest church building in Dunedin, bigger than any other church of any faith.
The church is located near the university at the top end of the city center. You can see it from many parts of central Dunedin on George Street.
Contents
History of Knox Church
The First Church Building
In 1858, a group was formed to start a new church and find a minister. This was to help the Presbyterian people living in Dunedin. The new church group came together in 1860. It included members from First Church and other independent groups.
The first Knox Church opened on May 6, 1861. It was the second Presbyterian church in the settlement. It was built of wood on land given by John Hyde Harris. He suggested the name "Knox Church." The first minister was Reverend D. M. Stuart, who arrived from England in January 1861.
Designing the New Church
The first wooden church was only meant to be temporary. But the Otago gold rush made Dunedin's population grow very quickly. This meant a bigger, permanent church was needed even more. So, in 1871, they decided to build a new church. It needed to seat 1,000 people and have space for a choir.
They bought land for the new church on George and Pitt Streets. Church officials held a competition for the design. Architect Robert Lawson won with his plans. However, his design was too expensive for the church's budget.
Even after increasing the budget, Lawson's design was still too costly. So, they chose a design by David Ross, who also designed the Otago Museum. But Ross and the church committee disagreed about building materials. Ross was later replaced. In 1874, Robert Lawson took over the project again.
Building the Church
Construction of the new church began in 1872. The first stone was laid on November 25, 1872. This was exactly 300 years after the death of John Knox, a famous Scottish religious reformer.
The church officially opened on November 5, 1876. The building cost a lot of money, about £18,383. The church finally paid off this debt in 1891.
In June 2008, the church closed for the first time for major work. They needed to install a new fire sprinkler system. They also restored some of the church's windows. Details on the windows had faded over time and needed to be made clear again. The church reopened in September 2008 after these important renovations.
Description of Knox Church
Church Style and Materials
Knox Church was designed by Robert Lawson in the Gothic style of the 13th century. It is built from bluestone taken from quarries near the Water of Leith. It also has special details and a spire made from Oamaru stone.
The church's shape is like a Latin cross. The main part, called the nave, is 30 meters long and about 22 meters wide. The tall spire reaches a height of 51 meters. The roof of the church is made of slate.
Inside the Church
Unusually for a church in New Zealand, Knox Church has two pipe organs. One is a large Hill, Norman, & Beard organ installed in 1931. It was fully updated in 1974. The other is a smaller organ with an oak case, which was originally in a church in Christchurch.
The church can seat up to 900 people for services and events.
Notable People Connected to Knox Church
Some important people have been part of Knox Church. These include Reverend James Gunn Matheson, a minister. Another notable person was Jessie Torrance, a nurse who served as an honorary deaconess in the 1920s.
