Didn’t the early settlers of the Canterbury Association build a church here? This is the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Wellington. It is an Anglican church. It stands between Victoria University of Wellington and Kelburn village.
Most members are students, academics, and graduates. They value being in a Christian community. They aim for an ancient future vibe. Centuries of Christian thought help them navigate twenty-first-century life.
The heart of their life together is Sunday worship. The community is like a slice of the New Zealand bush. Some members have responded to God’s call for a long time. They sustain a Christian witness here. They’re like the tōtara. The trees grow from small saplings. They mature and provide shelter for new saplings and birdlife.
The Church of St Michael and All Angels building is at 81 Upland Road. It is next to the Kelburn Shops. The number 4, 18, 21, 22 and 37 buses stop right outside. There’s a bike rack too.
But there is also a Church of St Michael and All Angels in Christchurch. The structure stands on the site of the first church. The Canterbury Association settlers built it in 1851. Henry Jacobs preached the sermon at the opening in July 1851. St Michael and All Angels served as the pro-cathedral. This lasted until the ChristChurch Cathedral’s completion in 1881.
William Fitzjohn Crisp was the architect of the current church. He came from England in 1864. He was a pupil of Robert Speechly. George Gilbert Scott appointed Speechly. He supervised the building of Christ Church Cathedral. The cornerstone of St Michael and All Angels was laid on 29 September 1870. It was the Feast of St Michael and All Angels. Problems with construction led to Crisp’s return to Britain in 1871. Frederick Strouts was appointed as supervising architect in June. The building was completed in 1872. James Schoolbraid was the contractor. Strouts said he was a very obliging worker.
The church opened on 2 May 1872. The chancel was not completed until 1875 due to a lack of money. The planned bell tower and spire were never constructed. The church is mostly mataī timber. It sits on rubble stone foundations. It is one of the largest timber Gothic Revival churches in the Southern Hemisphere. The only alteration was in 1896. A tie-beam and secondary arch were removed. This gave a better view of the east window.
The separate belfry survives from the previous church building. Benjamin Mountfort designed it. It was constructed in 1861. The bell it houses came with the First Four Ships in 1850. It rang every hour of daylight. This indicated the time to the first settlers.
Alfred Averill came to New Zealand in 1894. He became vicar of St Michael and All Angels. He rose to be Archbishop of New Zealand. St Michael’s Church School is associated with the church.
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust registered the church. It is a Category I heritage building since 2 April 1985. The church was the first on the Canterbury Plains. It was the pro-cathedral for some years. Architecturally, it is a notable timber Gothic building. The belfry is also a Category I structure. It was registered on the same day.
The wooden building survived three major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. It remained in use in the central city. The plans considered the threat of tremors. Parishioners met on 14 December 1869. They agreed on the building material. They decided that wood should be the material. This was due to the late severe shocks of earthquake. The earthquake hit Christchurch on 5 June 1869. Julius von Haast gave scientific commentary. St John’s Church in Hereford Street was damaged in that earthquake. It was the first Anglican church in Christchurch built of permanent materials. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 5. The ground shaking intensity was MMI 7.
Victoria Matthews and Kevin Rudd attended a Lenten service in March 2011. Matthews was Bishop of Christchurch. Rudd was Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Rudd lit a candle. It was in memory of those who died in the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
The present Henry Bevington and Sons pipe organ was installed in 1873. Fincham and Hobday enlarged it in 1895 and 1896.
The organ was damaged in the 22 February 2011 earthquake. It was removed for repairs. A temporary replacement was an organ built from parts of instruments. These were damaged during World War II bombing raids on Britain. The church fundraised to meet the organ restoration costs. The South Island Organ Company reinstalled the Bevington organ in 2013.