St Paul's Church, Auckland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church, Auckland
36°51′16″S 174°46′06″E / 36.854444°S 174.768333°E / -36.854444; 174.768333
Location	28 Symonds Street, Auckland
Country	New Zealand
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Charismatic Evangelical
Membership	695 over 18 years old (2024)
History
Status	Church
Founded	1841
Founder(s)	Governor William Hobson
Dedicated	1844, 1894
Relics held	Carved stones from Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster & St Paul's Cathedral, Bishop's throne, communion paten & chalice
Past bishop(s)	George Selwyn
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Category 1 Historic Place
Architect(s)	William Henry Skinner
Style	Gothic Revival
Years built	1894-1895
Specifications
Materials	Rangitoto basalt; Oamaru limestone & Mount Somers / Te Kiekie stone facings & dressings; Timaru bluestone plinths
Administration
Parish	St Paul's Symonds Street
Diocese	Auckland

St Paul's Church is a very old Anglican church in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on Symonds Street, close to the University of Auckland. This church is the oldest parish in the city. It also has one of the largest Anglican groups in Australasia.

The first stone for St Paul's was placed by Governor William Hobson on 28 July 1841. The very first church service happened on 7 May 1843. For over 40 years, St Paul's was also Auckland's main Cathedral. The church building you see today is the third one. It was officially opened on 1 November 1895. Today, it is known as a Category I Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand. This means it is a very important historical site.

History of St Paul's Church

The First Church Building

The original St Paul's Church building at Emily Place.

St Paul's is often called the 'Mother Church' of Auckland. This is because it is the oldest church community in the city. It was started less than a year after Auckland itself was founded. The very first St Paul's church was built in Emily Place in 1841. A special plaque still marks this spot today.

The old St Paul's was in the middle of the new colonial city. It sat on a high ridge called Point Britomart. It was near the army base, Fort Britomart. It was also close to an old Māori village site called Rangipuke pā. This was where Ngāti Whātua had defended their land during the Musket Wars. St Paul's was the main church for the Bishop of New Zealand, Bishop George Selwyn. Many rich settlers in Auckland went to this church. The Anglican faith was very important to the British rulers. Many items in St Paul's, like the Bishop's Throne, are from this time. Auckland was the capital of New Zealand back then.

Reverend John Churton was the first minister of St Paul's. He served for 12 years. A memorial was built for him near the original church. In 1863, the first church building was made much bigger. This doubled the number of people who could sit inside.

During the New Zealand Wars in the 1860s, St Paul's was used as a safe place. Women, children, and older people could stay there. This was a traditional role for churches during difficult times. Later, as Auckland grew, fewer people came to St Paul's. Many moved to new suburbs like Epsom and Remuera. Other churches like St Matthew's and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre served these new areas.

Early Connections with Māori People

On 20 March 1840, a very important event happened. The chief of Ngāti Whātua, Apihai Te Kawau, signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This was the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi. Ngāti Whātua wanted protection from other tribes. They also wanted a good relationship with the British Crown and the Church. Soon after, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei gave 3,500 acres of land to Governor Hobson. This land was on the Waitematā Harbour. It was given so he could build his new capital, Auckland. All three St Paul's church buildings were built on this land.

When Governor Hobson started St Paul's on 28 July 1841, many people came. Hundreds attended the ceremony. This included Ngāti Whātua chiefs Apihai Te Kawau, Te Keene, and a young Pāora Tūhaere. Over one hundred Māori warriors also joined them.

Bishop Selwyn learned te reo Māori himself. In 1842, he told Reverend Churton that he must learn the language too. He wrote that Churton should be ready to help Māori people with their spiritual needs. This was to be done "without distinction of persons." However, St Paul's first vicar focused mainly on European settlers. He did not learn te reo.

Bishop Selwyn opened St Paul's Church with four services on 7 May 1843. He wrote that Māori people came from far away to be there. Many wore European clothes. They took part in the church service in a way that was very different from the quiet English settlers. St Paul's then held four Sunday services each week. Two were in te reo Māori and two were in English.

In 1845–1846, the Northern War happened. This was due to different understandings of the Treaty of Waitangi. People in Auckland thought Hōne Heke might attack the city. St Paul's was made stronger with special shutters. Women and children were put into St Paul's Church for safety. A military guard was placed there for the night. It turned out the gunfire was just for a chief who had died.

More and more Europeans came to Auckland. This put pressure on Māori land and society. It made relations difficult. Because of this, a second Anglican church, St Barnabas, opened in 1849. It was specifically for Māori people.

Bishop Selwyn was the head of the church in New Zealand for 28 years. He was criticized for not training enough clergy, especially Māori. It took him 11 years to ordain the first Māori Anglican minister, Rev Rota Waitoa, at St Paul’s in 1853. He ordained seven more Māori clergy at St Paul's.

When Churton died in 1853, Bishop Selwyn chose Rev John Frederick Lloyd to take his place. Lloyd was a friend of Selwyn. He respected Māori people and spoke te reo. He had taught both Māori and European students. Together, they tried to create a church that welcomed both cultures.

By 1859, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei had given away most of their land. They had given 13,200 more acres to the Crown. Only 700 acres of the Ōrākei block remained. Later, this land was also taken by the Crown.

Selwyn and Lloyd often spoke up for Māori rights. They criticized how land was taken, which led to the New Zealand Wars. However, they supported the Invasion of the Waikato as chaplains. This hurt their relationship with Māori people.

The first St Paul's building was seen as a church for the army. But when army flags were given to the church, Lloyd turned them down. He wanted the church to be a place where everyone felt united.

When the first St Paul's building was taken down, many memorials were kept. But there was only one direct mention of Māori people. It was a plaque about 'hostile Maoris at Rangariri'.

Moving to a New Location

The proposed design for the 1894 St Paul's church building, including the corner tower and steeple that have not yet been completed.

The original church in Emily Place was taken down in 1885. This happened when Point Britomart was dug away.

A temporary wooden church was built by William Henry Skinner. It was on the corner of Short Street and Eden Crescent. This was used while a permanent church site was found. That temporary church is now part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The current site on Symonds Street was chosen. It was large enough and central. It was also near Karangahape Road. By the 1880s, this road was busy with shops. It was used by both Māori and Pākehā. The road was a traditional path for Ngāti Whātua. The Symonds Street Cemetery was also nearby.

The new church building was opened in 1894. It did not have the corner tower and steeple that were planned. A long economic downturn meant there wasn't enough money to build such a big church. The inside was kept simple. It had a beautiful rose window and special items given by Bishop Selwyn.

St Paul's in the 20th Century

In 1908, Reverend Cecil Watson became the minister. He helped St Paul's become a strong center for a certain style of Anglican worship. Watson and his successor, Samuel Corbin, led the church for 50 years. They brought in Sung Mass (services with singing) and choral music. They also introduced the idea of spiritual healing.

In 1936, the temporary wooden part of the church was replaced. Today's concrete part was built, but it still needs to be covered in stone.

Photograph of St Paul's Church by Arthur Breckon, around 1955.

In 1954, Father Kenneth Prebble took over. The church building and the people attending were not in good shape. For the next 20 years, he made St Paul's important again. In the mid-1960s, Prebble started to embrace a new spiritual movement. This made St Paul's more focused on the Holy Spirit. It became more modern and welcoming. Through popular music and a coffee shop for students, Prebble and Father David Balfour helped the church grow. It had a big impact in Auckland and beyond during the 1950s and 60s.

From 1956 to 1973, many repairs were made to the building. This included cleaning and fixing stonework. The roof was replaced. New stained glass windows were added. These included the Endean Memorial, Christ in Glory, and Patteson Memorial windows.

In 1974, the St Paul's Outreach Trust was started. By 1976, they had made three music albums. These were called Songs for Prayer & Praise, Arise my Love, and Harvest of Joy. They also made songbooks. However, in the 1970s, the church's strong leadership weakened.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the church worked to better understand Māori culture. They had their first Māori curate, Wally Te Ua. A Friday night gospel service was started. This helped reach immigrant families and students from Asian countries. The church also supported women becoming clergy. However, many people who used to attend moved away. By 2002, only 46 members were on the church list.

St Paul's in the 21st Century

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many young New Zealanders became Christians in London. When they came back home, they wanted a similar church in Auckland. In 2004, a team from a London church was invited to St Paul's. They started new services for families and young people. Reverend Mike and Bex Norris led a group of about 80 people. They saw huge growth. By 2009, there were 1,335 members on the church list.

From 2009 to 2013, St Paul's held a big Christmas event. It was called GLOW Carols by Glowstick. About 10,000 people came each year. St Paul's also made Christmas films for the event. The Christmas Story has been watched millions of times online. In 2012, they made a short film called O Little Town of Bethlehem. It was filmed in modern Bethlehem. In 2012, St Paul's also released a live music album called GOD w/ US.

In 2013, Reverend Mathew Newton asked the Anglican Diocese of Auckland to stop investing in fossil fuel companies. This was because of the danger of climate change. The diocese agreed. It was the first New Zealand group to do this.

In 2015, St Paul's published a book called St Paul's Stories. It had personal stories and photos from 128 people in the church.

From 2015 to 2019, St Paul's created Alt Carols. This was a different kind of Christmas event. It mixed music, art, and design. Albums of remixed carols were released in 2017 and 2019.

From 2019 to 2022, the church building went through big repairs. This included making it stronger against earthquakes. This was needed after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. On 5 March 2020, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei led a special blessing for the work. St Paul's thanked the descendants of Apihai Te Kawau for the land. Large timelines showing the stories of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and St Paul's were put up during the work. Future plans include a new roof, more earthquake strengthening, and new stained glass windows.

In 2020, Reverend Dr Nathan McLellan became a priest. He was part of the tikanga Māori (Māori way) church. He was also allowed to minister at St Paul’s, which is part of the tikanga pākehā (European way) church. This was a special arrangement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022, St Paul's held online services. Reverend Jonny Grant led the church. They made 400 online videos. These videos were watched over 436,700 times. Their Christmas services in 2021 were only online.

On 13 December 2023, Reverend Pete Watson became the 13th Vicar of St Paul's. He had been a vicar in Masterton before this.

In 2025, St Paul's had a team of 17 staff members. This included the vicar, two assistant priests, and other full-time and part-time workers.

Music from St Paul's

St Paul's Singers

• Songs for Prayer & Praise, album (1974)
• Arise my Love, album (1974)
• Harvest of Joy, album (1975)
• New Harvest, album (1981)

St Paul's Music

• GOD w/ US, live album (2012)
• Creation's King, single (2014)
• Alt Carols, compilation EP (2016)
• Alt Carols, Vol. 1, compilation album (2017)
• Alt Carols, Vol. 1.5, compilation EP (2018)
• Alt Carols, Vol. 2, compilation album (2019)
• See Again (Bartimaeus), single (2020)
• You Are My Desire, single (2022)
• Garden, single (2024)

Videos from St Paul's

SPAM (St Paul's Arts & Media)

• The Christmas Prophecy (2006)
• Google Earth Christmas (2006)
• Open (2007)
• The Open Post 1&2 (2007)
• Open – Alice (2007)
• Family – An Exploration (2007)
• The Big Little Easter Story 1&2 (2009)
• O Little Town of Bethlehem (2012)
• 766 Christmases (2013)
• Star of Wonder (2016)
• Gold Frankincense Myrrh (2017)
• Stained Historical Stories – Talks 1–4 (2018)
• This is Christmas (2019)
• Palm Sunday Reading (2020)
• Easter Sunday Reading (2020)
• Christmas, I Choose to Remember (2020)
• Common Christmas Questions (2020)
• The Stories of Advent 1–6 (2021)
• Jesus Meets His Mother (2022)

St Paul's Videos

• Life (2007)
• How We're Doing It (2009)
• Life Questions (2011)
• GLOW Event Opening (2011)
• Date My Mate NZ (2012)
• International Students (2013)
• Life Course (2013)
• Mike & Bex 10 Years (2013)
• Twins and Twins (2014)
• GLOW Promo (2014)
• Visual Identity (2018)
• Big Issues (2020)
• Restoration Update (2020)
• The Story of St Paul's (so far ...) (2021)
• The Open Course (2021)
• The Evening Service (2022)
• 400 pre-recorded and live online service, prayer, youth and kids videos, during COVID-19 restrictions (2020–21)

SPANK (St Paul's Arts 'n' Kids)

• When God Was Born (2008)
• Boys (2009)
• The Christmas Story (2010)
• Good News of Great Joy (2011)
• My Mum (20012)
• An Unexpected Christmas (2012)
• Star News Bethlehem (2013)
• The Story of the Whole Bible (2019)

St Paul's Music Videos

• GOD w/ US 1–14 (2012, 2014)
• Creation's King (2014)
• Alt Carols 1–5 (2016)
• See Again (Bartimaeus) 1&2 (2020)
• You Are My Desire (2022)
• Garden (2024)

Gallery

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  The Auckland waterfront with Māori waka and the original St Paul's building above Point Britomart, painted in 1852.

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  The temporary St Paul's building photographed in the 1880s.

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  Architect's drawing of the third building from 1894, showing the steeple that was not built.

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  The third and current St Paul's building photographed in 1909.

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  A St Paul's Evening Service, 2012.

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  A St Paul's artist performs at Alt Carols for Christmas 2017.

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  St Paul's on Symonds Street, 2018.

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  St Paul's community at an annual Quiz Night, 2019.

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  Artists perform at Alt Carols for Christmas 2019.

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  Building restoration scaffold wrap, including Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and St Paul's timelines, 2020.

Windows Gallery

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  The large western Rose Window, with designs by William Henry Skinner, was the only stained glass put in when the church was built, 1895.

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  The northern Derbyshire Window, by James Powell and Sons, showing the Adoration of the Magi, Annunciation and Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, 1951.

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  The southern Endean Memorial Window, by James Powell and Sons, showing the Baptism of Jesus, Adoration of the Shepherds, Crucifixion of Jesus and Flight into Egypt, 1959.

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  The large eastern Christ in Majesty Window, designed by Lawrence Lee, showing Mary, mother of Jesus, Jesus, Paul the Apostle, a dove (Holy Spirit) and an eye (God the Father), 1967.

List of Vicars

Memorial to Rev John Frederick Churton, located at Emily Place Reserve, near the original St Paul's building, photographed in 2012.