St Barnabas Church, Warrington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Barnabas Church |
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|---|---|
| St Barnabas' Church | |
St Barnabas' Church viewed from north
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| 45°42′24″S 170°35′40″E / 45.706643°S 170.594310°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Saint Barnabas |
| Dedicated | 11 November 1872 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Timber |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Coastal Otago |
| Diocese | Dunedin |
St Barnabas' Church is a special old Anglican church located in Warrington, Otago, New Zealand. It's a small building made of wood. This church was built a long time ago, in 1872, and is now protected as a heritage site.
The Church's Story
Before the church was built, people who followed the Anglican faith in Warrington met at the home of a family named Pitt. Mrs. Pitt was very kind and gave 2 acres (0.81 ha) of her land so a church could be built there.
The church building was constructed by a person named Benjamin Smith. It officially opened its doors on 11 November 1872.
The church and its community are named after St Barnabas. He was an important early teacher in the Christian Church. St Barnabas' Church is part of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, which covers the Coastal Otago area.
About the Building
The church is surrounded by trees and has a cemetery next to it. An important person, Samuel Tarratt Nevill, who was Otago's first Anglican Bishop, was buried here in 1921.
You enter the church grounds from Coast Road through a traditional lych gate. This is a special covered gateway often found at the entrance to churchyards.
The church itself is built with a style called "board and batten," which means it uses wooden boards and strips (battens). Its roof is made of wooden shingles. It also has a small tower with a copper tip and a bell inside.
Amazing Stained-Glass Windows
One of the most interesting things about St Barnabas' Church is its stained glass windows. They are very detailed and beautiful, which is unusual for such a small church. These windows show pictures of people like St. Joan of Arc and Christ the Redeemer.
There's a popular story that these windows were first meant for a Roman Catholic church in Brisbane, Australia. The story says they were sent to Dunedin instead because of a problem at the waterfront. However, recent studies have shown that this story isn't true. The real history of where these windows came from is even more complex and fascinating!
The building is officially listed as a Category II Historic Place. This means it's recognized as a place of historical importance in New Zealand.
Gallery
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German stained-glass windows at the 'west' end of the church
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Wooden interior of St Barnabas Church
