Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019
INSIDE: Keep boiling your water, Mar tinborough P5
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End of era for historic church Emily Ireland One hundred and thirty-five years ago, the Mauriceville West Lutheran Church was built, with the site later becoming the resting place of some of New Zealand’s early Scandinavian settlers. But next month, it will be the end of an era, with the church set to be deconsecrated and sold for relocation. It is not the original build, but it does date back to 1957. Congregation members and trustees of the site Bruce and Jo Farley said they were saddened by the decision to sell the church building, but knew it was the right move. “We’re working through options where the building will be given a new life,” Mauriceville West Lutheran Church congregation member Jo Farley.
Bruce said. “One person we are working with is very interested in its history and trying to preserve that. “We’re encouraged by that.” The couple, who together make up a third of the remaining congregation, found consolation in the idea that the church building was “just a building” – “the church is the people”, Bruce said. The church, located on South Rd, Mauriceville, was first opened in 1884 and was built of kahikatea. Its interior was described in historical documents as “severely plain”, with a row of long wooden pews on either side of the aisle, “the men sitting on one side, the women on the other”.
By the end of the 1950s, the original church had fallen victim to borer and was demolished. A new church was built on the same site by members of the community who volunteered their time. Some parts of the church were kept and remain in place today including the bell, the organ – which was brought over by the early Scandinavian settlers by boat, the altar rails, sacred vessels, and a framed colour print of the painting by Danish artist Carl Boch depicting Christ standing with his hand on the head of a child. The pine that was used to build the new church was donated by Jo Farley’s uncle. Continued on page 4
PHOTO/EMILY IRELAND
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