Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Image
Linked To
Map
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
The Second Catholic Church in Leeston
Description
TitleThe Second Catholic Church in Leeston
DescriptionEven though the church in Southbridge must have relieved some of the pressure of numbers attending Mass at the first Leeston Catholic Church, the building was too small for the number of parishioners and many had to stand outside.
Father Chervier, with encouragement from parishioners, started planning for a new church by November 1892 and by December it had been decided to build on the 7-acre site alongside the two-year-old presbytery which was occupied by Father Chervier.
The foundations were prepared and in April 1893 the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Grimes with about 500 persons attending.
About 200 nicely dressed school children and the Hibernian Society members with their green sashes formed a procession to a highly decorated dais where Mr W.J. Holley read an address, the bishop spoke and a choir under Miss Holley as organist provided the music.
Mr Maurice de H Duval, the architect, presented the bishop with a silver trowel.
The church was dedicated in honour of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
By the end of 1893 the last brick had been laid and the tower and spire finished.
Recognising that earthquakes had damaged the spire of the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral, a 3m balancing bar with a heavy weight attached to the end was hung from the ornamental iron cross and vane.
Inside woodwork was considered to be of a magnificent and substantial appearance, and was pronounced by expert authorities to be the best work and design of any building of the description in New Zealand.
The church was opened in April 1894 by Bishop Grimes on a wintery day which did not deter a large crowd from attending.
While photographs of the exterior of the church taken throughout its history reveal very little change (until the earthquake) there have been some changes internally most noticeably the re-arrangement of the seating to form a centre aisle, removal of the communion rail and movement of the altar so that the priest now faces the congregation.
The centennial of the second church was celebrated in May 1993 in the newly painted building, when Bishop J. Cunneen presided at Mass.
This was followed by an official welcome and tree planting and afternoon tea.
In the evening a dance was held in the Leeston Rugby Stadium.
Since the centennial corresponded with women’s suffrage in NZ, a Roll of Honour of 22 parish women born between 1830 and 1885 was published.
St John the Evangelist, Leeston Catholic church, was damaged in the September 2010 earthquake. The steeple moved sideways and there was substantial structural damage to the whole church.
The steeple was removed immediately to prevent further damage.
Opus International was employed by the Diocese to prepare a report on Repair and Replacement options and a Conservation Report was prepared by Ian Bowman, Architect and Conservator.
Bishop Barry Jones gave approval for strengthening in a two-part project, the first instance to 34% NBS.
The Diocese employed Scope Group to carry out the work.
This involved removal of the chancel arch, installing ties to improve roof-to-wall connections, steel angle ties in the roof, steel bracing and additional wall anchorage and installing steel in the pillars and cross bracing.
There was also work on the tower, installing steel tower bracing, steel strap ties between timber truss and wall and waterproofing.
These works are described in layman's terms and were obviously much more complicated than they read, as are the plans for the work. Some of the requirements of stage two 67% NBS were carried out during stage one.
Mass was again celebrated in our church on Sunday 9th October 2016. We were very grateful to the Anglican Parish of Ellesmere and the Ellesmere Co-operating Parish for their generosity over this time.
There are too many names to mention them all, but I will thank Keith Beal from the Diocese for his help over the time and acknowledge the amazing workmanship of Kevin Gardiner from Scope Group.
The earthquakes also took a total toll on St Joseph’s school buildings and although the school was closed in 1985 the buildings were well used as a Parish Centre and for wider community gatherings, we were sad to see the buildings demolished.
Mike Noonan
Anna Carter
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date24 October 2019SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationLeeston
DescriptionEven though the church in Southbridge must have relieved some of the pressure of numbers attending Mass at the first Leeston Catholic Church, the building was too small for the number of parishioners and many had to stand outside. Father Chervier, with encouragement from parishioners, started planning for a new church by November 1892 and by December it had been decided to build on the 7-acre site alongside the two-year-old presbytery which was occupied by Father Chervier.
The foundations were prepared and in April 1893 the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Grimes with about 500 persons attending.
About 200 nicely dressed school children and the Hibernian Society members with their green sashes formed a procession to a highly decorated dais where Mr W.J. Holley read an address, the bishop spoke and a choir under Miss Holley as organist provided the music.
Mr Maurice de H Duval, the architect, presented the bishop with a silver trowel.
The church was dedicated in honour of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
By the end of 1893 the last brick had been laid and the tower and spire finished.
Recognising that earthquakes had damaged the spire of the Christchurch Anglican Cathedral, a 3m balancing bar with a heavy weight attached to the end was hung from the ornamental iron cross and vane.
Inside woodwork was considered to be of a magnificent and substantial appearance, and was pronounced by expert authorities to be the best work and design of any building of the description in New Zealand.
The church was opened in April 1894 by Bishop Grimes on a wintery day which did not deter a large crowd from attending.
While photographs of the exterior of the church taken throughout its history reveal very little change (until the earthquake) there have been some changes internally most noticeably the re-arrangement of the seating to form a centre aisle, removal of the communion rail and movement of the altar so that the priest now faces the congregation.
The centennial of the second church was celebrated in May 1993 in the newly painted building, when Bishop J. Cunneen presided at Mass.
This was followed by an official welcome and tree planting and afternoon tea.
In the evening a dance was held in the Leeston Rugby Stadium.
Since the centennial corresponded with women’s suffrage in NZ, a Roll of Honour of 22 parish women born between 1830 and 1885 was published.
St John the Evangelist, Leeston Catholic church, was damaged in the September 2010 earthquake. The steeple moved sideways and there was substantial structural damage to the whole church.
The steeple was removed immediately to prevent further damage.
Opus International was employed by the Diocese to prepare a report on Repair and Replacement options and a Conservation Report was prepared by Ian Bowman, Architect and Conservator.
Bishop Barry Jones gave approval for strengthening in a two-part project, the first instance to 34% NBS.
The Diocese employed Scope Group to carry out the work.
This involved removal of the chancel arch, installing ties to improve roof-to-wall connections, steel angle ties in the roof, steel bracing and additional wall anchorage and installing steel in the pillars and cross bracing.
There was also work on the tower, installing steel tower bracing, steel strap ties between timber truss and wall and waterproofing.
These works are described in layman's terms and were obviously much more complicated than they read, as are the plans for the work. Some of the requirements of stage two 67% NBS were carried out during stage one.
Mass was again celebrated in our church on Sunday 9th October 2016. We were very grateful to the Anglican Parish of Ellesmere and the Ellesmere Co-operating Parish for their generosity over this time.
There are too many names to mention them all, but I will thank Keith Beal from the Diocese for his help over the time and acknowledge the amazing workmanship of Kevin Gardiner from Scope Group.
The earthquakes also took a total toll on St Joseph’s school buildings and although the school was closed in 1985 the buildings were well used as a Parish Centre and for wider community gatherings, we were sad to see the buildings demolished.
Mike Noonan
Anna Carter
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date24 October 2019SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationLeestonImage
Connections
CollectionHistory of the Catholic Parish in EllesmereOrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyEvent150th Anniversary of the Catholic Parish in EllesmereImageMinnie GreenanSt John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Leeston
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyEvent150th Anniversary of the Catholic Parish in EllesmereImageMinnie GreenanSt John the Evangelist Catholic Church, LeestonAttribution
Click on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
loading google map....
The Second Catholic Church in Leeston (24 October 2019). Selwyn Stories, accessed 03/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5462
