St Barnabas Church, Christchurch Explained

St Barnabas Church
Coordinates:-43.5195°N 172.5965°W
Country:New Zealand
Location:8 Tui Street, Christchurch
Address:8 Tui Street, Fendalton, Christchurch 8052
Denomination:Anglican
Membership:Approx. 400 Parishioners
Website:stbarnabas.org.nz
Architect:Cecil Wood
Style:Arts and Crafts
Years Built:1926
Diocese:Diocese of Christchurch
Bishop:The Rt Rev’d Dr Peter R Carrell
Vicar:Jenny Wilkens & Andrew Butcher

St Barnabas Church is an Anglican church in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is registered as Category I by Heritage New Zealand.

History

The current stone church was designed to replace an earlier wooden church. The earlier wooden church was built in 1876. St Barnabas was originally part of St Peter's Riccarton and the parish of Riccarton.[1] In 1883, Fendalton became its own parish and at this time the wooden church was enlarged.[2] [3] A new church built out of permanent materials was proposed in 1916. In 1918, the vicar at the time, Canon Thomas Hamilton, suggested that the church should be built as a memorial to those who died during World War I.[4] Cecil Wood was chosen as the architect. Wood was known to be an admirer of the American architect Bertram Goodhue but he does not appear to have adopted any of Goodhue's common design elements other than the tabernacle at St Barnabas.[5] The foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Julius in 1925. The new church was built one hundred feet behind the wooden church. On 20 November 1926 the Church was dedicated and consecrated by bishop Campbell West-Watson.[6] It was registered as a historic place on 2 April 1985, with registration number 3681. The church has a longstanding relationship with Medbury School.[7]

Canterbury earthquakes and restoration

The church sustained damage during the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the June aftershock. The parish fundraised and also received funding from the Christchurch Earthquake Heritage Buildings Trust to restore the church and to strengthen the building up to 67% of the national building standard.[8] [9] The restored church was reopened by the Bishop of Christchurch, Victoria Matthews, on 19 February 2017.[10] [11] In February 2021 the St Barnabas Centre was reopened.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 7 June 1924 . St Barnabas Church . LX . 10. The Press. 24 August 2021.
  2. News: 21 March 1925. New Fendalton Church. 16. The Press. LXI . 18337 . 24 August 2021.
  3. Web site: Search the List St Barnabas Church (Anglican) Heritage New Zealand. 24 August 2021. www.heritage.org.nz.
  4. Web site: History. 24 August 2021. St Barnabas Anglican Church.
  5. Helms . Ruth . 1996 . The architecture of Cecil Wood . PhD . . 51f.
  6. News: 20 November 1926. St Barnabas church consecrated . The Star. 24 August 2021.
  7. Web site: Traditional Christian Values. 25 August 2021. Medbury School.
  8. Web site: St Barnabas Anglican Church – DPA Architects ArchiPro. 25 August 2021. archipro.co.nz.
  9. Web site: Church Property Trustees – Update No. 16-11: Recovery Team – Anglican Life. 25 August 2021. anglicanlife.org.nz.
  10. Web site: St Barnabas Anglican Church, Fendalton, Christchurch. 25 August 2021. ketechristchurch.peoplesnetworknz.info.
  11. Web site: Fendalton war memorial church NZ History . 6 June 2024 . nzhistory.govt.nz.
  12. Web site: St Barnabas Connect, Fri. 19 February, 2021. 25 August 2021. St Barnabas, Fendalton.