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Hone Wetere Church, Taumutu
Description
NameHone Wetere Church, Taumutu
Alternative NameTaumutu Methodist ChurchJohn Wesley Church, TaumutuDescriptionMembers of the Māori and Pākeha congregation photographed outside Hone Wetere (John Wesley) Church at Taumutu in 1899. This image was taken by A. C. Mills for the Weekly Press, and was published on 19 July 1899 with this caption:
"The Rev. Philip J. Cocks from Southbridge, the Rev. H. E. Ensor from Leeston, and the Rev. C. Griffin, the Wesleyan minister at Leeston, all hold periodical services in this church, which is largely attended by the fishermen from Taumutu Point. The Maori girls receive special teaching in the English language."
In 1844 Bishop Selwyn held a service and stayed with Taumutu Māori on his way south. Rev. C. Creed of Waikouaiti called at Taumutu with three Māori companions in 1845. It became part of the circuit of Rev. Te Kote te Ratou who was based in Rapaki in 1865.
H. K. Taiaroa MP moved from Otakou to Taumutu and became the leader of the Taumutu congregation. He promoted a subscription list and donations were made by all the residents of the district, Māori and Pākeha.
The church was built on the site of the pā built by Te Rauhikihiki at Taumutu and was opened on Easter Tuesday, 7th April 1885 by the Reverend W. Rowse assisted by Te Koti Te Rato. It had been fully funded by the community and opened debt-free.
The church was designed by the architect, T. S. Lambert and built by a German builder known as Herman, who also built Awhitu House for Taiaroa. The Rev. Philip J. Cocks from Southbridge, the Rev. H. E. Ensor from Leeston, and the Rev. C. Griffin, the Wesleyan minister at Leeston held periodical services in this church.
As noted on the Te Taumutu Rūnanga website, 'although iron has replaced the shingles on the church roof and the belfry from the western gable has been removed, the church has remained relatively unchanged. Early records state that the belfry was ‘lost’ in the early 1880’s'.
Currently (2024) services are held twice a year: before Christmas; and a combined service of Cooperating Parish and Anglicans takes place on the last Sunday in January, with morning tea to follow at the Ngāti Moki Marae.
Alternative NameTaumutu Methodist ChurchJohn Wesley Church, TaumutuDescriptionMembers of the Māori and Pākeha congregation photographed outside Hone Wetere (John Wesley) Church at Taumutu in 1899. This image was taken by A. C. Mills for the Weekly Press, and was published on 19 July 1899 with this caption:"The Rev. Philip J. Cocks from Southbridge, the Rev. H. E. Ensor from Leeston, and the Rev. C. Griffin, the Wesleyan minister at Leeston, all hold periodical services in this church, which is largely attended by the fishermen from Taumutu Point. The Maori girls receive special teaching in the English language."
In 1844 Bishop Selwyn held a service and stayed with Taumutu Māori on his way south. Rev. C. Creed of Waikouaiti called at Taumutu with three Māori companions in 1845. It became part of the circuit of Rev. Te Kote te Ratou who was based in Rapaki in 1865.
H. K. Taiaroa MP moved from Otakou to Taumutu and became the leader of the Taumutu congregation. He promoted a subscription list and donations were made by all the residents of the district, Māori and Pākeha.
The church was built on the site of the pā built by Te Rauhikihiki at Taumutu and was opened on Easter Tuesday, 7th April 1885 by the Reverend W. Rowse assisted by Te Koti Te Rato. It had been fully funded by the community and opened debt-free.
The church was designed by the architect, T. S. Lambert and built by a German builder known as Herman, who also built Awhitu House for Taiaroa. The Rev. Philip J. Cocks from Southbridge, the Rev. H. E. Ensor from Leeston, and the Rev. C. Griffin, the Wesleyan minister at Leeston held periodical services in this church.
As noted on the Te Taumutu Rūnanga website, 'although iron has replaced the shingles on the church roof and the belfry from the western gable has been removed, the church has remained relatively unchanged. Early records state that the belfry was ‘lost’ in the early 1880’s'.
Currently (2024) services are held twice a year: before Christmas; and a combined service of Cooperating Parish and Anglicans takes place on the last Sunday in January, with morning tea to follow at the Ngāti Moki Marae.
Connections
CollectionMethodistOrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyMore InformationRead more about this photograph on the Canterbury Stories websiteRead more about the site of the church on the Te Rūnanga o Taumutu websiteRead more about the history of the church
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyMore InformationRead more about this photograph on the Canterbury Stories websiteRead more about the site of the church on the Te Rūnanga o Taumutu websiteRead more about the history of the churchHone Wetere Church, Taumutu. Selwyn Stories, accessed 25/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6293