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 a very old and important Anglican church in Waimea West, New Zealand. It's special because its first building, built in 1843, was the very first church in the Nelson Province. This church also has the longest history of continuous services in New Zealand. Today, St Michael's Church is recognized as a Category 1 historic building by Heritage New Zealand, which means it's very important to protect.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
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The very first church service for this community happened on December 4, 1842. It was held in a 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 (a church leader).
The 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 area. The building was about 16 meters (52 feet) long. It cost £105 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
Building the New Church
By May 1866, the church community decided they needed a bigger, new church. They chose Thomas Brunner, a famous architect, to design it. The first stone for the new church was placed on November 24, 1866. This special event is called a "foundation stone laying ceremony."
Many important people attended the ceremony. 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.
A Special Memorial Church
On Christmas Day in 1866, the church committee decided to add a special memorial. This was a tablet to remember Captain Francis H. Blundell. He had been a big supporter of building the new church. He lived right next door to the church and passed away in 1865. He is buried in the church's graveyard, on land he had given.
Because of this memorial, St Michael's Church was likely New Zealand's first "memorial church." This means it was built partly to honor someone important.
First Services and Consecration
The first service in the new 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 wasn't officially "consecrated" until November 13, 1867. To consecrate a church means to make it sacred and officially set it aside for religious use.
What Happened to the Old Church?
The church community tried to sell the original, older church building. However, they didn't get any good offers. So, Mrs. Blundell used it as a Sunday school for children. Sadly, the old building was later blown over by strong winds.
St Michael's Church Today
On April 5, 1984, St Michael's Church was officially recognized as a Category I structure. This registration was done by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which is now called Heritage New Zealand. Being a Category I structure means it is a place of special historical or cultural importance.
