St Matthew's Church, Dunedin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew's Church |
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St Matthew's Church from a late 19th-century postcard
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| 45°52′48″S 170°29′53″E / 45.87990°S 170.49811°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 11 July 1873 |
| Dedication | Matthew the Apostle |
| Consecrated | 3 December 1874 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | William Mason |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Construction cost | NZ£4,874 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 750 people |
| Materials | Bluestone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Matthew's |
| Diocese | Dunedin |
St Matthew's Church is a beautiful Christian church. It is located on the City Rise in Dunedin, New Zealand. A famous architect named William Mason designed it.
The first stone for the church was laid on July 11, 1873. The building was officially opened on December 3, 1874. It cost about NZ£4,874 to build. This amount was fully paid off by 1901. The church was big enough to seat 750 people comfortably.
Contents
What Makes St Matthew's Church Special?
Its Unique Design
St Matthew's Church is built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like old churches from the Middle Ages. It mixes styles from the Norman and Early English periods. The church is made from a dark stone called bluestone. It also uses a special stone called Port Chalmers breccia for its corners and flat surfaces. This mix of materials is quite unusual.
The church has a cross shape when you look at it from above. This is called a cruciform plan. At one end, there is a rounded area called an apsidal chancel. Here, you can see five tall, narrow stained glass windows. These windows let colorful light into the church.
Inside the Church
Inside, there are aisles on the sides of the main area, called the nave. Huge, eight-sided pillars separate these aisles from the nave. There is also a tall tower and a spire at the front corner of the church. This is where the main entrance is located. Another entrance can be found at the opposite front corner.
Some people in the Dunedin area hoped St Matthew's would become the main church, or cathedral. However, the church members did not agree. Instead, St. Paul's church became the cathedral.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, many buildings have been built around St Matthew's Church. Even so, it still looks very attractive. The inside of the church was changed in the late 1900s. The layout was reversed, but it has since been put back to its original design. The old wooden benches, called pews, are no longer there. However, most of the church's inside looks much like it did when it was first built.
Famous Connections
In 1942, a well-known artist named Colin McCahon got married at St Matthew's Church. His father-in-law, Reverend Hamblett, was the priest at the church at that time. He performed the wedding ceremony.
Protecting History
St Matthew's Church is very important historically. It has a Category I listing with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. This means it is considered a place of special historical value in New Zealand.
