All was not plain sailing for the church in the new settlement. Between 1851 and 1872 there was persistent conflict over buildings, finance, and leadership as the Anglican church in Christchurch evolved from makeshift beginnings into a more structured parish system.
The rudimentary V-hut on church...
The educational vision of the Canterbury Association was central to its hope of establishing “a good and right state of Society” in the new settlement. On 1 March 1851, the Lyttelton Times reported:
“It was determined to commence an elementary and commercial school at Christ-church, as soon as p...
2026 marks 175 years of continuous Christian worship on the St Michael’s Parish site. The story began when in November 1847, Edward Gibbon Wakefield persuaded an idealistic young Irishman, John Robert Godley, that together they could devise the best of all emigration schemes. The following year, in...
As a part of the 175th Anniversary of the Canterbury Settlement and the bicentennial of his birth we will be having a Festive Evensong to celebrate the architecture of Benjamin W. Mountfort (St Michael's Belfry and other significant Canterbury buildings.) Details below. There will also be an organ r...
As part of our celebration of Christchurch Heritage Week, we welcomed many members of the public into the church. A highlight of the week was a video produced by John Sellwood (https://www.tellinglives.co.nz/) which looks at our history with a focus on our many beautiful stained glass windows.
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