Church of St John the Evangelist, Westport

The Church of St John the Evangelist in Westport, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, is an Anglican parish church built in timber. Completed in 1924, it received a category 2 heritage listing from Heritage New Zealand in 1989.

Church of St John the Evangelist
St John the Evangelist in 2020
41°45′10.12″S 171°36′5.13″E
Location67 Queen Street, Westport
CountryNew Zealand
DenominationAnglican
Websitewww.churchinwestport.co.nz
History
StatusParish church
Consecrated1924
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Completed1924
Administration
ParishBuller
DeaneryMawhera
DioceseNelson
ProvinceAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Clergy
Minister(s)Reverend Matt Watts
Designated21 September 1989
Reference no.5027

Background

The first Church of St John the Evangelist in Westport was consecrated on 28 August 1869 by the Bishop of Nelson, Andrew Suter.[1] However, by 1911, the church was considered to be too small, and plans were drawn up for a replacement church, designed in brick by noted ecclesiastical architect Frederick de Jersey Clere. However, World War I intervened and the scheme did not proceed. Bricks that had been purchased for the construction of the new building were sold in 1923.[2]

Construction and architecture

The present Church of St John the Evangelist was built in 1924 on the site of the previous church.[2] Constructed in timber with weatherboard cladding, the church is designed in a simplified Gothic revival style with minimal exterior ornament. The building features a steeply pitched gable roof, lancet windows (either singly or in groups of three), and buttresses to provide lateral stability.

Current status

On 21 September 1989, the Church of St John the Evangelist was designated as a category 2 historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand).[3] The building remains in use as one of three parish churches within the Buller Anglican Parish.[4][5]

References
  1. "Consecration of St. John's Church, Westport". Nelson Evening Mail. 2 September 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  2. Donovan, Don (2002). Country Churches of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland. p. 122. ISBN 1869660153.
  3. "Church of St John the Evangelist (Anglican)". Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  4. "St. John's Anglican Church, Westport". Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  5. "Buller". Anglican Diocese of Nelson. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
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