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The Church of the Open Door, Te Pirita
Description
TitleThe Church of the Open Door, Te Pirita
DescriptionLike Mead, Te Pirita has long been a farming district rather than a settlement. With the subdivision of Sir John Hall’s Terrace Station in 1907 it became settled closely enough to warrant the opening of a post office and a school (1911-62).
There were no early churches in Mead or Te Pirita, but a decade after a hall was built at Te Pirita the Methodists built a church which was also used for Anglican services. The church was dedicated on 18 December 1955 at the crossroads that marked the heart of the settlement.
In 1976 Te Pirita became part of the Malvern Co-operating Parish, which was made up of Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches at Darfield, Greendale, Russell’s Flat and Te Pirita.
In the early 21st century the church passed into private hands and was renamed the Church of the Open Door. It remains in use as a place of prayer and contemplation.
The Church of the Open Door has architectural significance as the work of notable Christchurch architect W. Melville Lawry. Lawry was the grandson of Walter Lawry (1817-1905), a farmer and lay Methodist preacher of Springston, and the son of Samuel Lawry (1854-1933), who was a Methodist minister and church administrator.
The church also has a commemorative function, containing a plaque dedicated to the memory of Private CW Reddecliffe who was killed in action in Italy on 20 June 1944. Claude Reddecliffe was the son of Walter and Emma Reddecliffe of Te Pirita and was a farmhand at the time of his enlistment. He is buried at the Cassino War Cemetery in Italy.SourceSDC Historic Heritage Report H8 by Dr. Ann McEwen
DescriptionLike Mead, Te Pirita has long been a farming district rather than a settlement. With the subdivision of Sir John Hall’s Terrace Station in 1907 it became settled closely enough to warrant the opening of a post office and a school (1911-62). There were no early churches in Mead or Te Pirita, but a decade after a hall was built at Te Pirita the Methodists built a church which was also used for Anglican services. The church was dedicated on 18 December 1955 at the crossroads that marked the heart of the settlement.
In 1976 Te Pirita became part of the Malvern Co-operating Parish, which was made up of Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches at Darfield, Greendale, Russell’s Flat and Te Pirita.
In the early 21st century the church passed into private hands and was renamed the Church of the Open Door. It remains in use as a place of prayer and contemplation.
The Church of the Open Door has architectural significance as the work of notable Christchurch architect W. Melville Lawry. Lawry was the grandson of Walter Lawry (1817-1905), a farmer and lay Methodist preacher of Springston, and the son of Samuel Lawry (1854-1933), who was a Methodist minister and church administrator.
The church also has a commemorative function, containing a plaque dedicated to the memory of Private CW Reddecliffe who was killed in action in Italy on 20 June 1944. Claude Reddecliffe was the son of Walter and Emma Reddecliffe of Te Pirita and was a farmhand at the time of his enlistment. He is buried at the Cassino War Cemetery in Italy.
SourceSDC Historic Heritage Report H8 by Dr. Ann McEwenConnections
PlaceTe PiritaMore InformationSee inside the church
More InformationSee inside the churchAttribution
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The Church of the Open Door, Te Pirita. Selwyn Stories, accessed 10/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6646
