St Michael's Church, Waimea West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael's Church |
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St Michael's Church in Waimea West
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| 41°20′17″S 173°06′21″E / 41.33815°S 173.10578°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Founded | 24 November 1866 |
| Founder(s) | Mrs Blundell |
| Dedication | Saint Michael |
| Consecrated | 13 November 1867 by Bishop Andrew Suter |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Brunner |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Waimea |
| Diocese | Nelson |
| Province | Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia |
St Michael's Church is an important Anglican church located in Brightwater, in the Tasman District of New Zealand. It is considered a special historical building. St Michael's was the very first church built in the wider Nelson Region. Because of its history, the building was officially listed by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I heritage building on April 5, 1984. This means it is a place of great historical value.
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The Church's Early Days
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The first church service in this area happened on December 4, 1842. It was held in a simple shed belonging to the father of John Kerr. Soon after, two neighbors, Saxton and Tytler, generously gave land. This land was for building a church and a home for the vicar (church leader).
The very first service in the newly built church took place on December 24, 1843. This church was the first one ever built in the Nelson Province. The building was about 16 meters (52 feet) long and cost £105 to build.
Building a New St Michael's Church
As the community grew, people decided they needed a bigger, new church. In May 1866, a special committee chose Thomas Brunner to be the architect. He was the person who would design the new building.
The foundation stone for the new church was placed on November 24, 1866. Many important people attended this special event. These included Colonel Mathew Richmond and Sir David Monro. The architect, Thomas Brunner, was also there. Bishop Selwyn led the service. Mrs Blundell had the honor of laying the foundation stone.
Remembering Captain Blundell
On Christmas Day in 1866, the committee decided to add a special memorial inside the church. This was to honor Captain Francis H. Blundell. He had been a very important person in getting the new church built. Sadly, Captain Blundell passed away in 1865. He was buried in the church's graveyard, on land he had given to the church.
Many people believe St Michael's was New Zealand's first "memorial church." This means it was built partly to remember someone special.
The New Church Opens
The first service in the new St Michael's Church was held in July 1867. The new Bishop of Nelson, Andrew Suter, was expected to arrive later that year. Because of this, the church was not officially "consecrated" until November 13, 1867. Consecration is a special ceremony that dedicates a building for religious use.
The old church building was no longer needed. The community tried to sell it, but they didn't get any good offers. Mrs Blundell used it for a while as a Sunday school for children. However, strong winds eventually blew the old building over.
St Michael's as a Heritage Site
On April 5, 1984, St Michael's Church was officially registered. It was listed by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which is now called Heritage New Zealand. It received registration number 248 as a Category I structure. This means it is a place of very high historical importance.
St Michael's Church is located on Waimea West Road. This area is part of Brightwater, which is also known as Waimea West. It sits just south of the border with Appleby.
