St. David's Memorial Church, Cave

St. David's Memorial Church
General information
Architectural styleNorman revival
LocationCave, New Zealand
Coordinates44°19′05″S 170°56′21″E / 44.318175°S 170.939222°E / -44.318175; 170.939222
Completed1930
Design and construction
Architect(s)Herbert W. Hall
Awards and prizesNZIA Gold Medal 1934
Designated28 June 1984
Reference no.312

St. David's Memorial Church is a historic building in the township of Cave, New Zealand. One of two memorial churches in South Canterbury recognising the runholders and shepherds of the Mackenzie country, it is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Historic Place Category 1 building.

History

St. David's Memorial Church was designed in 1930 by Herbert W. Hall. The building was awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects gold medal in 1934.[1][2] It was built for Thomas Burnett in memory of his father Andrew Burnett (1838–1927) and his mother Catherine (1837–1914), as well as to commemorate other pioneering run-holders who took up runs in the Mackenzie country.[3][4] A memorial chair to the early ministers in the Mackenzie Country, made of black pine, was installed in 1935.[5]

Built from glacial stones that had been minimally worked for a rugged, randomised appearance, St. David's Memorial Church has similarity to the Norman style of churches. It has a nave, to which an entry porch is provided, and a tower with a crenelated parapet. Westmoreland slate was used for the roof.[6]

The National Historic Places Trust, the predecessor to Heritage New Zealand, listed the church as a Historic Place Category 1 on 28 June 1984, with a list number of 312.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b "St David's Pioneer Memorial Church". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Awarded gold medal". Timaru Herald. 1 March 1935. p. 3. Retrieved 16 July 2025 – via Papers Past.
  3. ^ "St. David's Memorial Church— – Unique – Architectural – Features | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Interior of unique church". Dominion. 19 November 1930. p. 9. Retrieved 16 July 2025 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ "Novel memorial". Timaru Herald. 6 July 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  6. ^ Thornton 2003, pp. 136–138.

References

  • Thornton, Geoffrey G. (2003). Worship in the Wilderness: Early Country Churches of New Zealand. Auckland: Reed Publishing. ISBN 0-7900-0892-0.