This is actually one of the more interesting churches, in terms of its history. Originally, St Marys church was built on the Hill in Napier, as a second church for the catholics. The site was just up France Rd / Convent Rd, and the church was situated above the first church (built 1861) on the corner of France Rd and Shakespeare Road. After a few years, it became apparent that the centre of town was not going to be on the hill, and so this church was taken apart, in the 1870s? in large chunks, and pulled by bullock train down form the Hill and onto the present site at Ahuriri, which at that stage was bustling. The site it sat on then would have been on of the last remnants of a small island called Gough's Island, which later got surrounded by other reclaimed land and eventually became warehousing for wool. The Church was decommissioned at some stage in the 1970s, and was the subject of a measured drawing in the early 1980s, before it was converted to the present gaudy tat of a failed music studio. It is one of the most historic churches left in Hawkes Bay - a shame to see it left to rot like this.
Actually it would be better to contact the Napier City Council for ownership information, than to provide unreliable and/or possibly out-dated information that has not been verified. Was permission sought by whoever owns it, to publish ownership details, AND IS that ethical/legal without owner's consent? Elton John and Sting!!??.. not likely!.. maybe sting took a photo of it when he was here? but Elton John?!.. not likely. Maybe the Napier City Council should declare it a national heritage building, so it can be restored.!.. perhaps the Napier City Council own it.? Who owns your house? or building or for that matter, derilict church Mr or Mrs Anonymous?! would you like to share your address and family details with the world?
Thanks for the comments guys, at least there is a bit more information now available here on the church's history.
As an aside; I've now just returned to the blog after quite a hiatus& while I have continued to take church photos I haven't added them here. I'm going to try to get this rolling again but in the meantime you might like to visit my Flickr photos & in particular the Country Church set.
I had heard the 'hearsay' that an American person had bought the church however all that seemed to change externally was the addition of cut outs of musical instruments. The inside? Not known. As a write off investment? If it is correct that it was moved then that bodes well should a buyer of the building wish to relocate it. Thank you for your photos. Regards, John B
The first comment has a lot of correct information as far as my family history is written. It was built in Cobden Road and was important for my family as my great great grandparents were the first couple married in the new church on 21 August 1873. They were William Moloney and Elizabeth Higgins and William wrote the following about the churches. "The first catholic church in Napier was St Mary's Chapel on the corner of France and Shakespeare Rds and opened in 6 March 1859 with Mass celebrated by Fr Reignier sm. The second church built in Cobden Road was formally blessed on 10 August 1873 by Bishop Moran of Dunedin who arrived in Napier on the ship "Rangatira"." It was moved to flat ground in Ahuriri in 1910. There is also information about the door high up on the building. I would love to be able buy the church and move it to our property in Meeanee to ensure it's preservation! Jan
Was a Catholic church up to the 70's/80's
ReplyDeletethen turned into a recording studio
This is actually one of the more interesting churches, in terms of its history. Originally, St Marys church was built on the Hill in Napier, as a second church for the catholics. The site was just up France Rd / Convent Rd, and the church was situated above the first church (built 1861) on the corner of France Rd and Shakespeare Road.
ReplyDeleteAfter a few years, it became apparent that the centre of town was not going to be on the hill, and so this church was taken apart, in the 1870s? in large chunks, and pulled by bullock train down form the Hill and onto the present site at Ahuriri, which at that stage was bustling. The site it sat on then would have been on of the last remnants of a small island called Gough's Island, which later got surrounded by other reclaimed land and eventually became warehousing for wool.
The Church was decommissioned at some stage in the 1970s, and was the subject of a measured drawing in the early 1980s, before it was converted to the present gaudy tat of a failed music studio. It is one of the most historic churches left in Hawkes Bay - a shame to see it left to rot like this.
Brian Finch, who is the actor Peter Finch’s nephew, owns it. It was indeed a recording studio where both Elton John and Sting have recorded.
ReplyDeleteActually it would be better to contact the Napier City Council for ownership information, than to provide unreliable and/or possibly out-dated information that has not been verified. Was permission sought by whoever owns it, to publish ownership details, AND IS that ethical/legal without owner's consent?
DeleteElton John and Sting!!??.. not likely!.. maybe sting took a photo of it when he was here? but Elton John?!.. not likely.
Maybe the Napier City Council should declare it a national heritage building, so it can be restored.!.. perhaps the Napier City Council own it.? Who owns your house? or building or for that matter, derilict church Mr or Mrs Anonymous?! would you like to share your address and family details with the world?
Thanks for the comments guys, at least there is a bit more information now available here on the church's history.
DeleteAs an aside; I've now just returned to the blog after quite a hiatus& while I have continued to take church photos I haven't added them here. I'm going to try to get this rolling again but in the meantime you might like to visit my Flickr photos & in particular the Country Church set.
NZ Country Churches
I had heard the 'hearsay' that an American person had bought the church however all that seemed to change externally was the addition of cut outs of musical instruments. The inside? Not known. As a write off investment?
ReplyDeleteIf it is correct that it was moved then that bodes well should a buyer of the building wish to relocate it. Thank you for your photos. Regards, John B
The first comment has a lot of correct information as far as my family history is written. It was built in Cobden Road and was important for my family as my great great grandparents were the first couple married in the new church on 21 August 1873. They were William Moloney and Elizabeth Higgins and William wrote the following about the churches. "The first catholic church in Napier was St Mary's Chapel on the corner of France and Shakespeare Rds and opened in 6 March 1859 with Mass celebrated by Fr Reignier sm. The second church built in Cobden Road was formally blessed on 10 August 1873 by Bishop Moran of Dunedin who arrived in Napier on the ship "Rangatira"." It was moved to flat ground in Ahuriri in 1910. There is also information about the door high up on the building. I would love to be able buy the church and move it to our property in Meeanee to ensure it's preservation! Jan
ReplyDelete