St. David's Memorial Church, Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. David's Memorial Church |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Norman revival |
| Location | Cave, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 44°19′05″S 170°56′21″E / 44.318175°S 170.939222°E |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Herbert W. Hall |
| Awards and prizes | NZIA Gold Medal 1934 |
| Designated: | 28 June 1984 |
| Reference #: | 312 |
St. David's Memorial Church is a special old building in a place called Cave, New Zealand. It's one of two churches built to remember important people in the Mackenzie country. These people were early settlers, like farmers and shepherds. The church is officially recognized as a very important historic place. It is listed as a Category 1 building by Heritage New Zealand.
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History of St. David's Memorial Church
Who Designed and Built the Church?
St. David's Memorial Church was designed in 1930. The architect was Herbert W. Hall. An architect is someone who plans and designs buildings. His design was so good that it won a special award. In 1934, the church received the New Zealand Institute of Architects gold medal. This is a very high honor for a building's design.
Why Was the Church Built?
The church was built for a man named Thomas Burnett. He wanted to remember his parents, Andrew and Catherine Burnett. Andrew lived from 1838 to 1927, and Catherine lived from 1837 to 1914. The church also honors other brave pioneers. These were the first people who settled in the Mackenzie country. They were called "run-holders" because they managed large sheep farms. In 1935, a special chair was placed in the church. It was made of black pine wood. This chair remembers the early church leaders in the Mackenzie Country.
What Does the Church Look Like?
St. David's Memorial Church is built from unique stones. These are glacial stones, meaning they were moved by glaciers long ago. The stones were only slightly shaped, giving the church a rough and natural look. The church's style is similar to old Norman churches. It has a main hall, called a nave. There is also an entry porch where people come in. The church has a tall tower with a special top. This top is called a crenelated parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. The roof of the church is made from Westmoreland slate.
Protecting a Historic Place
The church is considered very important for New Zealand's history. Because of this, it was officially listed as a Historic Place Category 1. This happened on June 28, 1984. The organization that listed it was the National Historic Places Trust. This group is now known as Heritage New Zealand. They work to protect important historic sites across the country.
