St Canice's Church, Westport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Canice's Church
St Canice's Church, Westport, in 2020
41°45′19.33″S 171°36′7.13″E / 41.7553694°S 171.6019806°E / -41.7553694; 171.6019806
Location	18 Brougham Street, Westport
Country	New Zealand
Denomination	Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Consecrated	8 August 1976
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	John Scott
Architectural type	Modernist
Completed	1976
Construction cost	$100,000
Specifications
Capacity	300
Materials	Reinforced concrete, masonry block, timber, coloured acrylic
Administration
Parish	St Canice, Westport
Archdiocese	Wellington

St Canice's Church in Westport, New Zealand, is a Catholic church. It was designed by a famous architect named John Scott. The church was officially opened in 1976. It is the second church to stand on this spot. The first St Canice's Church was built in 1888.

A Church for Westport

The St Canice parish in Westport started in 1867. It is the biggest parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. At first, the Catholic churches in the area were not in Westport itself. They were built in places like Brighton and Charleston. These towns were busy gold-mining communities.

The very first Catholic church in Westport opened on March 17, 1868. It was first called Star of the Sea. But it was soon renamed St Canice's. This name honored the patron saint of Father Thomas Walshe's hometown in Ireland. This first church was located a bit north of where the current church stands.

The Second St Canice's Church

The second St Canice's Church in Westport, built in 1888.

In 1878, Father Walshe started raising money for a new church. The building project began in 1886. The new St Canice's was designed by architect Francis Petre. It was built next to St Canice's School.

This church had a neo-Gothic style. It was made from strong timber like kauri and rimu. The church was 26 meters (85 feet) long and 12 meters (40 feet) wide. It could hold about 400 people. It opened in November 1888. The official blessing happened in June 1889. The total cost was about £2600.

Why a New Church Was Needed

The 1888 church was damaged by a strong earthquake in 1962. It was also affected by another earthquake in 1968. Fixing the church and making it safe would have been too expensive. So, in 1971, the church decided to build a new one.

They chose John Scott to design the new church. He was known as a great church designer. Some people did not like this choice at first. They thought another architect should have been picked. But the local priest, Father David Monaghan, really wanted Scott to design it. He knew Scott's work from another church.

In 1974, the old church was finally closed. Strong winds during a church service made people fear it would fall down. After that, the building was never used for worship again.

Modern Design of St Canice's

The new St Canice's Church was opened on August 8, 1976. Cardinal Reginald Delargey led the ceremony. This was the last new church that John Scott designed.

At first, some people found the modern design a bit strange. They preferred the older, more traditional style. But Scott's design was very special. It used a fan shape as its main idea. It also played with colored light and interesting shapes.

• The church has four stepped triangular sections. They rise up above the altar.
• High windows use colored acrylic, which is like plastic. The colors are red, green, yellow, and blue.
• Some beautiful stained-glass windows from the old church were put into the new one.
• The church is built with strong materials like concrete and timber.
• The ceiling is made of mataī wood.

Local builders, H. J. Neilson Ltd, built the church. It cost about $100,000 to build.

Reusing Old Treasures

Many things from the old church were saved and used in the new one.

• The old church bell
• The sanctuary lamp (a special light)
• The baptismal font (for baptisms)
• The Stations of the Cross (pictures showing Jesus's journey)
• Several statues
• The cross from the old church roof

New wooden seats were made because the old ones had wood-boring beetles. A special tapestry called Spiral with Cross was made for the church in 1983. It was created by a Westport artist named Marilyn Rea-Menzies.

Experts have praised St Canice's Church. They say it's a very important building from New Zealand's modern church history. It has interesting spaces and light. It also feels welcoming and practical.

Current Use

Engineers checked St Canice's Church in 2012 after the Christchurch earthquakes. They found that its strength was not as high as new buildings. However, the church is still used for services today.

Images for kids

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  The front of St Canice's Church.

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  A view of the church from the side.

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  The unique roof design.

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  Inside the church, showing the altar.

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  The colorful windows.

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  A closer look at the interior.

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  The entrance to the church.