Selwyn churches explained

The Selwyn churches were a group of 19th-century Anglican churches and chapels in the Auckland region, New Zealand, named after Bishop Selwyn, who inspired their construction. The majority were built in wood in the neo-gothic style, and many were designed by the architect Frederick Thatcher.^[1]

Two Selwyn churches, St Bride's Church in Mauku and the Holy Trinity in Otahuhu were designed by Arthur Guyon Purchas, an associate of the Bishop Selwyn.^[2]

Most Selwyn churches were constructed from local timber, mainly kauri and totara. Earlier churches were simple with a rectangular nave, and a smaller chancel; larger churches containing a spire and smaller ones having a belfry; internal walls were stained and varnished; Tudor style oriel windows were used in some. Examples of these include: All Saints Church, Howick, St Peter's Anglican Church, Onehunga, and St Matthias' Church, Panmure.

In 1930 two architecture students recorded and surveyed some of the more well-known Selwyn churches.^[3]

Selwyn churches in the Auckland region:^[4]

• St Stephen's, Judges Bay (1844) – first St Stephen's chapel
• St Andrew's, Epsom (1846–67)
• St Thomas's, Tamaki (1847)^[5]
• St John's Chapel, Meadowbank
• All Saints, Howick (1847)
• St Mark's, Remuera (1847–60)
• St Peter's, Onehunga (1848)
• St Barnabas, Mt Eden (1848)
• St Barnabas, Parnell (1848)
• St James' Church, Okahu (1850)^[3]
• St Matthias', Panmure (1852)
• Old St Mary's, Parnell (1855–58) – replaced by St Mary's Cathedral
• St Stephen's Chapel, Judges Bay (1857)
• St James', Māngere Bridge (1857) – the only stone church
• St John the Baptist, Northcote (1860)^[6]
• St Bride's, Mauku (1860–61)
• All Souls', Clevedon (1861)
• Christ Church, Papakura (1862)
• St John's, Drury (1862)
• Holy Trinity, Otahuhu (1863) – moved in 1928 to become Selwyn Church, Mangere East
• St Sepulchre's, Eden Valley (1865–91)
• St Peter's in the Forest, Bombay (1867)

Notes and References

1. Haworth. Jennifer. May 1995. The Selwyn churches. Heritage New Zealand. 53. 25–27.
2. Limbrick . Warren . Saint Bride’s Church, Mauku: A Frontier Church in the Midst of Conflict . Anglican Historical Society newsletter . April 2011 . 46 . The Anglican Historical Society of New Zealand.
3. Book: Knight . Cyril Roy . The Selwyn churches of Auckland . 1972 . Reed.
4. Book: Knight, Cyril Roy.. The Selwyn churches of Auckland. 1972. A.H. & A.W. Reed. 0-589-00705-X. Wellington [N.Z.]. 596619.
5. Web site: St. Thomas' Church (Kohimarama, Auckland, N.Z.). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210202013117/https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22494074. 2 February 2021. 28 January 2021. National Library of New Zealand. en.
6. Web site: Robinson. Michelle. 11 March 2010. Shore’s oldest church nears 150. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210205082234/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/3434961/Shore-s-oldest-church-nears-150. 5 February 2021. 26 January 2021. Stuff. en.