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Temuka Parish
The Temuka Presbyterians were raising funds for a church building as early as 1867. The Rev. George Barclay served South Canterbury, arriving from Lyttelton in January 1865. His parish covered from the Rangitata to the Waitaki, and from the sea to the mountains. The first services were held in the schoolhouse at Georgetown. As the population grew it became evident that Temuka should build a church and call in a minister of their own.
The first wooden church was built in 1871 on the southwest corner of Wood Street and Railway Terrace, later Hally Terrace. The parish included Geraldine and Pleasant Point. The first manse was at Geraldine Flat, considered a central location for the parish.
In 1879 the charge was divided into Pleasant Point, Geraldine and Temuka Parishes. Barclay remained with Geraldine and the Rev. D. Gordon was inducted into Temuka.
The first manse at Temuka, a two-storey wooden house, was erected in 1880 on five hectares on the west side of the Temuka River near the Manse Bridge. The wooden church was moved to the south end of the new church site further along Hally Terrace, to be used as a Sunday School. The foundation stone of the church was laid on February 1, 1900, with the new building opening a year later on January 19, 1901. It was designed by Dunedin architect John Burnside. Construction was carried out by contractor Joseph Manning of Port Chalmers, assisted by Temuka painter and plumber Mr. J Cooper. The tower was 28 metres high and an iron finial topped the spire originally which added another three metres.
Bible groups were established in 1905.
A two-storey brick residence replaced the manse in 1910. The location of the manse became a contentious issue. Some considered that it was too far from town, and without a road bridge, creating access problems when the river was high. Others thought that the site was appropriate, as a large proportion of the congregation lived west of the river. A meeting held 10 February 1919 reported that the iron pedestal from the steeple had fallen and damaged the gatepost opposite the front door of the church.
The Sunday School Superintendent, Isaac Smith, made an impassioned plea for a new building at the August 1915 annual general meeting. It was claimed that the building was not fit for the 150 children and 14 teachers to work in. Church managers were informed in September that the Guild family had decided to pay for a new building in memory of the late James Guild. A cottage on the site was sold and removed. The old building was cut in half. One half when to Rangitata and the other to Orari, with both used for preaching purposes.
The Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union was launched in 1919, continuing under the banner of the Association of Presbyterian Women.
A brick building for Bible Classes was erected in 1930 between the church and the hall.
A single-story brick manse was built on the corner of Davie St. and Ewen Rd in 1934. The section was subdivided and a modern manse erected alongside.
The Bible Class was deemed unsuitable for use and demolished in the 1980s.
The Sunday School hall was sold into private ownership in 2002. A new hall complex was completed in 2003.
The church was scheduled for demolition in January 2012 after the Christchurch earthquakes. A replacement church-extension was attached to the existing church hall complex and officially opened 12 April 2015
The first wooden church was built in 1871 on the southwest corner of Wood Street and Railway Terrace, later Hally Terrace. The parish included Geraldine and Pleasant Point. The first manse was at Geraldine Flat, considered a central location for the parish.
In 1879 the charge was divided into Pleasant Point, Geraldine and Temuka Parishes. Barclay remained with Geraldine and the Rev. D. Gordon was inducted into Temuka.
The first manse at Temuka, a two-storey wooden house, was erected in 1880 on five hectares on the west side of the Temuka River near the Manse Bridge. The wooden church was moved to the south end of the new church site further along Hally Terrace, to be used as a Sunday School. The foundation stone of the church was laid on February 1, 1900, with the new building opening a year later on January 19, 1901. It was designed by Dunedin architect John Burnside. Construction was carried out by contractor Joseph Manning of Port Chalmers, assisted by Temuka painter and plumber Mr. J Cooper. The tower was 28 metres high and an iron finial topped the spire originally which added another three metres.
Bible groups were established in 1905.
A two-storey brick residence replaced the manse in 1910. The location of the manse became a contentious issue. Some considered that it was too far from town, and without a road bridge, creating access problems when the river was high. Others thought that the site was appropriate, as a large proportion of the congregation lived west of the river. A meeting held 10 February 1919 reported that the iron pedestal from the steeple had fallen and damaged the gatepost opposite the front door of the church.
The Sunday School Superintendent, Isaac Smith, made an impassioned plea for a new building at the August 1915 annual general meeting. It was claimed that the building was not fit for the 150 children and 14 teachers to work in. Church managers were informed in September that the Guild family had decided to pay for a new building in memory of the late James Guild. A cottage on the site was sold and removed. The old building was cut in half. One half when to Rangitata and the other to Orari, with both used for preaching purposes.
The Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union was launched in 1919, continuing under the banner of the Association of Presbyterian Women.
A brick building for Bible Classes was erected in 1930 between the church and the hall.
A single-story brick manse was built on the corner of Davie St. and Ewen Rd in 1934. The section was subdivided and a modern manse erected alongside.
The Bible Class was deemed unsuitable for use and demolished in the 1980s.
The Sunday School hall was sold into private ownership in 2002. A new hall complex was completed in 2003.
The church was scheduled for demolition in January 2012 after the Christchurch earthquakes. A replacement church-extension was attached to the existing church hall complex and officially opened 12 April 2015
P-A3.50-133
Relates to
Temuka Parish. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 11/04/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/117288
