Donovan’s World

I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.

Not far from Mt Peel, (see 99, Church of the Holy Innocents) and also in the valley of the Rangitata River, is St Stephen’s Church, Peel Forest.
 
It was built for £272 by Nelson & Coutts of Ashburton in 1885, replacing an earlier church that had blown down in a ‘whirlwind’.
 
The bell tower, which I particularly like, was added in 1915 at the same time as the ‘lean-to’ vestry on the west front of the church.

There’s enough money in a kitty given by bequest for the church to be replaced by a stone one but local parishioners have decided to stick with what they know and love.

© DON DONOVAN 
 
donovan@ihug.co.nz

St. James’s is a lovely old Anglican church built in 1865 to Benjamin Mountfort’s plans. His designs were also used to extend the church, adding transept, chancel and vestry in 1874.

I felt that because it rambles almost untidily along the riverbank above the Cust River it would make an unrewarding watercolour, but I thought the slim and elegant detached belfry quite a different matter, its brickwork contrasting nicely against limestone masonry blocks from Mount Somers.

It replaced a weather damaged, wooden structure in 1882. It is said to have one of the best-toned bells in Canterbury - the gift of General Sir Edward Cust, one of the founders of the province.

© DON DONOVAN
 
donovan@ihug.co.nz

I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.

ST. PAUL’S, CHELTENHAM  

A sister church to St Mary’s at Beaconsfield, Clere & Swan’s St Paul’s in Cheltenham was built in 1904.

Its once triumphant belfry still holds its head high. Sadly the church was deconsecrated for lack of support on 25 March 2001 and, at the time I made my drawing, was up for tender.

© DON DONOVAN
  
donovan@ihug.co.nz