The Maori Church
St Faith's was known as the Maori Church during the late 1880's to early 1900's.
1880-1881 Principal Arawa chiefs are making moves to set
aside a piece of land at Ohinemutu to build a church, it was to be called St
Faith’s. Part of the Muruika Peninsula
is decided on and locals called in Tuhoto to lift the tapu on the area which
was a burial ground for earlier residents of that pa.
“Reverend Ihaia Te Ahu (who has steadfastly labored amidst
many discouragements as an ordained clergyman of the Church of England since
1860 amongst his countrymen, the loyal tribe of the Arawa) is very desirous of
erecting a church at Ohinemutu where he resides. He feels the great want of a
suitable building in which the people may assemble for public worship…. I would
therefore very earnestly appeal to the English residents, and to the many
visitor and tourists… to contribute towards building of a commodious and
suitable Church, such as will be an ornament to the new township.” This article
is followed by a subscription list of those who have already contributed. Daily
Telegraph 1881-06-01, pg. 4.
Bishop of Waiapu laid the foundation stone on 5 June 1884.
St Faith’s is consecrated in 1885.
Reverend Ihaia Te Ahu is appointed 1st Vicar of
St Faith’s in 1882 and remains until 1889.
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| Showing exterior view of the old St Faiths Church at Ohinemutu Photographer James Richardson c1895-1930s 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-6188' |
Rev. S. Ingle arrived to take the post in 1896 and Ratema Te
Awekotuku is admitted as a deacon. Te Awekotuku serves there until 1902
followed by Walter Tuahangata Fraser until 1905. Frederick Augustus Bennett
(born Ohinemutu 1871) is ordained as a deacon in 1896, followed by in 1897 as a
priest… takes charge of St Faith’s c1905-1917 he is ordained as the 1st
Bishop of Aotearoa.
Serves until his death in 1950 and is buried under the
sanctuary of ‘his’ church. During his
time the new St Faith’s was built and the older one moved and turned to face
west c.1910 it was still used as a Sunday school & church hall until Feb
1936 when it collapsed during a severe gale. The pieces of the old church were
then removed from the site altogether.
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| Showing exterior view of the new St Faiths Church at Ohinemutu Photographer James Richardson 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 4-6187' |
For more information see the St Faith's website or their Facebook page.
With thanks to the Don Stafford Collection, Papers Past and Auckland City Libraries for the above info and images.
