St John's Church, Hororata also known as St John's Memorial Church and the Hororata Memorial Church is a former Anglican church located on Scotts Road, Hororata, New Zealand.[1]
| St John's Church | |
|---|---|
| St John's Memorial Church | |
| Hororata Memorial Church | |
 St John's Church in 2020 | |
 | |
| 43°31′09″S 171°56′47″E / 43.5190578537686°S 171.9464003572926°E | |
| Location | Scotts Road, Hororata |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Previous denomination | Anglican |
| Website | www |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Dedication |
|
| Consecrated | 27 February 1911 |
| Events | 2010 Canterbury earthquake |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Closed |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Closed | 4 September 2010 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone |
The church was closed in September 2010 and the Hororata congregation use the heritage-listed St John's Hall for services.[2]
History edit
St John's Hall edit
The first building to be built on the site was a small wooden church, which was built in 1875. On 23 June 1983, the wooden church was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category 2 historic place, with the registration number being 1785.[3] The building was later moved across the road to its present day location for the construction of the current stone church. Meanwhile, the 1881 wooden church had become the parish hall, but since the 2010 Canterbury earthquake it has been used for services.
St John's Church edit
On 6 February 1910, the stone church had its foundation stone laid and the building consecrated on 27 February 1911. The funds were bequeathed by former New Zealand Premier, Sir John Hall as a memorial for his late wife, Rose, Lady Hall.[1]
The new church was built of local stone from the Malvern Hills – volcanic rock from the Wairiri Valley, Glentunnel and the interior of Oamaru stone. Before construction was started, samples of the stone were sent to England for testing and were pronounced to be of excellent quality. However, as far as is known, no other building has been made of it.[4]
In June 1914, the stained glass window was made in England, and installed. The pulpit was added in 1961 for the church's 50th Jubilee.[4]
The organ was built from ranks of pipes from the organ of St Augustine's in Cashmere, and also Christchurch Cathedral's first organ. It was completed in 1970.[4]
2010 Canterbury earthquake edit
The church suffered major damage during the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, causing the bell tower to partially collapse into the nave and surrounding gravestones. The church's organ, which was originally installed at ChristChurch Cathedral had been totally destroyed.[5] The church will be repaired at a cost of NZ$3 million. Local initiatives were set up in the years following the earthquake to help raise the restoration costs, notably the Hororata Highland Games (first held in 2011) and the Hororata Night Glow.[6]
Notable burials edit
- Sir John Hall (1824–1907), New Zealand politician[7]
- George Williamson Hall (1818–1896), New Zealand politician[8]
References edit
- ^ a b "Hororata memorial church". NZHistory, New Zealand history online. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ Dangerfield, Emma (4 September 2020). "Parishioners want Hororata's stone church restored after 10 years of inaction". Stuff. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "St John's Church (Anglican) (Formerly Church now Hall)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
- ^ a b c PhilBee NZ (social historian) (9 December 2017), Hororata: St John's Anglican Church (c.1911) (3), retrieved 27 January 2023
- ^ "Hororata – St John's Anglican Church". Hunting Kiwis. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "Historic church rebuild frustrates but rural town's spirit strong". Stuff. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ White, Amber Blanco, "Hall John (1824–1907)", Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement, vol. 2, retrieved 31 July 2020
- ^ "Obituary". The Star. No. 5501. 28 February 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 17 July 2010.