Oxford Terrace Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oxford Terrace Baptist Church |
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Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in 2020
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| 43°31′38″S 172°38′35″E / 43.5273°S 172.6430°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Modernist |
| Completed | 24 December 2017 |
| Construction cost | NZ$8.5 million |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 250 people |
| Oxford Terrace Baptist Church (former) | |
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The building after the collapse caused by the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
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| 43°31′38″S 172°38′35″E / 43.5273°S 172.6430°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Previous denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Church (1882 – 2010) |
| Events | |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Building collapsed |
| Architect(s) | Edward J. Saunders |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Neoclassical style |
| Completed | 9 July 1882 |
| Construction cost | NZ£3,130 |
| Closed | 4 September 2010 |
| Demolished | 22 February 2011 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 600 people |
The Oxford Terrace Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Christchurch, New Zealand. It sits on a special corner next to the Avon River. This church is part of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand.
The first church building was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2010. It then completely fell down in another big earthquake in February 2011. This old building was listed as a historic place. A brand new church building opened its doors on Christmas Eve in 2017.
Contents
History of the Church
The Baptist church group in Christchurch started in 1863. It was formed by 19 settlers who came from England. Decimus Dolamore was the first minister. He helped set up the Baptist faith in New Zealand.
The group first met in the town hall. In 1864, they built their first church on Lichfield Street. The group split up in 1867 but came back together in 1870. They then built another church on Hereford Street.
The church group decided they needed a bigger building. They bought land for £1,325 on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Madras Street. This spot looked out over the Avon River.
The Old Church Building
A local architect named Edward J. Saunders won a competition to design the new church. However, the church group felt the building would cost too much. So, they moved their old Hereford Street church to the new site instead.
People found it funny when the church sat on a wagon next to ChristChurch Cathedral for a whole weekend in 1879. Three weeks after it arrived at the new spot, the building caught fire. But it opened again a few months later. This older building was used until 1903, when it caught fire again.
Plans for the new, bigger church were asked for in August 1881. But the prices were too high. In September 1881, a company called Morey and McHale offered to build it for £3,130, which was accepted.
The Reverend C. Dallaston placed the first stone on 14 October 1881. The church was finished and opened on 9 July 1882. At that time, it was the largest Baptist church in New Zealand. An organ was brought from England and put in the church in 1915.
The main church building was badly damaged by the earthquake on 4 September 2010. It then completely fell down during the earthquake on 22 February 2011. The building was taken down in June 2011 after more damage from another earthquake on 13 June 2011.
Becoming a Heritage Site
On 10 September 2004, the church was listed as a Category II historic place by Heritage New Zealand. This means it was an important old building. Its special number was 1853.
The church was important because of its Neoclassical style. This style was unusual for Christchurch. The church had the last remaining "temple frontage" in the city.
In 2011, Peter Beck, who was the dean of ChristChurch Cathedral, said the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church was one of the "iconic churches of the city."
After the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, the building was removed from the historic list. It was then called "Lost Heritage" because it was destroyed.
The New Church Building
The old church site was used for a temporary art display by Peter Majendie. It was shown for the first time on the one-year anniversary of the February 2011 earthquake. The art was called Reflection of Loss of Lives, Livelihoods and Living in Neighbourhood.
It used 185 white chairs, all different shapes. Each chair stood for one of the people who died in the earthquake. This artwork became known as 185 empty chairs. After a year, the art moved to a new spot. In 2017, people started talking about making the artwork a permanent display.
In March 2016, The Press newspaper announced that a new, modern church had been approved. This new church cost NZ$8.5 million. It has two floors and an auditorium that can hold 250 people. The church reopened its doors on Christmas Eve in 2017.
Gallery
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View of the church in 1885. The wooden building on the left is the older church transported to here from the Hereford Street site
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Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in 2008
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View of the church after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, with props holding up the facade
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Installation of 185 empty chairs
