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 an Anglican church in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It sits on a hill called the City Rise.
A famous architect named William Mason designed it. Building started on July 11, 1873. The church was officially opened on December 3, 1874. It cost about 4,874 New Zealand pounds to build. That was a lot of money back then! They finally paid it off in 1901. The church could fit 750 people inside.
What Does St Matthew's Church Look Like?
St Matthew's Church is built in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like old churches from the Gothic period. It is made from a dark stone called bluestone. The corners and edges use a different stone called Port Chalmers breccia. This mix of stones is quite special.
The church is shaped like a cross when you look at it from above. It has a rounded end called an apse, which holds five colourful stained glass windows. Inside, there are wide walkways called aisles. These are separated from the main area by large, eight-sided pillars.
Special Features of the Church
At the southwest corner, there is a tall tower with a spire on top. This is where the main entrance is. There is also another entrance at the northwest side.
Some people in the Diocese (the church's local area) hoped St Matthew's would become the main church, or cathedral. But the people who went to St Matthew's did not want this. Instead, St. Paul's in the Octagon became the cathedral.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, many buildings have been built around the church. But it still looks very nice. The inside layout of the church was changed in the late 1900s. However, it has since been put back to its original design. The old wooden benches (pews) are gone, but most of the inside looks much like it did when it was first built.
In 1942, a famous artist named Colin McCahon got married in St Matthew's Church. His wife, Anne Hamblett, was the daughter of the church's minister at the time. Her father performed the wedding ceremony.
The church is very important to New Zealand's history. It has a special Category I listing with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. This means it is a place of great historical value.
