“A church built for sailors and soldiers” That’s how many describe Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Onehunga. It stands before you a testament to faith and resilience. The current structure isn’t the first. No this building is a product of several transformations.
Saint Peter’s Anglican Church has deep roots in Onehunga Auckland New Zealand. Its story begins in 1848. A wooden church was built then. It was designed by St John’s College’s building department. They constructed it much like All Saints’ Church in Howick. Frederick Thatcher was the architect perhaps assisted by Reverend Arthur Purchas. The first service was held on June 29 1848. This was for a community the bishop described as “living in open and notorious sin”.
The original church followed a cruciform plan. Its nave and transepts had equal spans. It had a high-pitched gable roof and a central bell tower. The windows featured vertical diamond panes. The interior boards were vertical too. Horizontal bracing was visible on its external walls.
Interestingly the church’s central tower wasn’t always where it is now. Around 1858 it was moved to the side. This made the roof much steeper. The vicar and volunteers completed this task in just one week. It’s a remarkable feat of community effort.
The growing population necessitated extensions in the 1860s and 1870s. A new site was purchased in 1903 but only the hall and vicarage were built. A new stone chancel and tower were added in 1930. The wooden nave from the original church remained. Architect Cyril Roy criticised the design calling the old and new sections incompatible.
The wooden nave was eventually dismantled. Construction of the current building began in 1980. It was consecrated on St Peter’s Day June 28 1981.
The Saint Peter’s Anglican Church cemetery holds a rich history. It contains graves of victims from the HMS Orpheus and Niger. It’s also the resting place of Elizabeth Yates and tragically Keith Johnson a homeless man who died there in 2017. A surfboard now permanently marks his bench a poignant memorial.
So as you stand here before Saint Peter’s Anglican Church reflect on its enduring legacy. It’s more than just a building. It’s a living history of faith community and the ever-changing landscape of Onehunga.