Church of St Mary the Virgin,– 30, 30E Church Square,Christchurch

DISTRICT PLAN –LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT –STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN,– 30, 30E CHURCH SQUARE,CHRISTCHURCH

Research to date suggests that the group of buildings – the Church of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary’s Church), the bell tower and the lychgate – within their own substantial square are unique in New Zealand. The group reflects the efforts of the early Canterbury settlers to recreate the village landscapes they left behind.

Prominent early Cantabrian, Henry Sewell, played a major role in the church, from his donation of the land in 1863, when he subdivided his land to create the suburb of Addington and set aside land for an Anglican church, until his death in 1879. Richard John Seddon, Premier of New Zealand from 1893 was also closely associated with the church until his sudden death in 1906

The group of church buildings is situated in the midst of the mature trees of Church Square, the only parish church in the city to occupy its own square. The belltower and lychgate are also within the original square. The square provides an important focal point for the Addington Anglican community.

Page 1 DISTRICT PLAN –LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT –STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 1300 CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN AND SETTING –30, 30E CHURCH SQUARE,CHRISTCHURCH

PHOTOGRAPH : M.VAIR-PIOVA, 23/12/2014

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE Historical and social values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular person, group, organisation, institution, event, phase or activity; the continuity and/or change of a phase or activity; social, historical, traditional, economic, political or other patterns.

The Church of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary's Church) (1867-1900) has high historical and social significance as the Anglican parish church for Addington since 1867, as one of the oldest surviving timber churches in Christchurch city and for its association with prominent early Cantabrian Henry Sewell and New Zealand Premier Richard John Seddon. The only timber church within Christchurch city that is older is St Mary’s Church Heathcote. Intended as a temporary structure it has been extended and altered over the years, and this incremental growth reflects the frequently straitened circumstances and changing requirements of the parish. The church commemorates the work of clergy and laity, who have contributed to the development and maintenance of the building and parish. Particularly notable were early Canterbury settler Henry Sewell, through whose efforts the church was founded, and the long ministry of Rev. Walter Bean from 1892 until 1933, who was married to Richard Seddon’s daughter. In more recent years, the church is linked to the Taizé Community, an ecumenical monastic order from Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France

Page 2 which has more than one hundred brothers, from Protestant and Catholic traditions, originating from about thirty countries across the world.

CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE Cultural and spiritual values that demonstrate or are associated with the distinctive characteristics of a way of life, philosophy, tradition, religion, or other belief, including: the symbolic or commemorative value of the place; significance to Tangata Whenua; and/or associations with an identifiable group and esteemed by this group for its cultural values.

St Mary's Church has cultural and spiritual significance as a spiritual and social hub for Addington's Anglicans that has provided a place of spiritual worship for the community for nearly 150 years. The creation of the lychgate and bell tower memorials can be perceived as a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its working class congregation. The church and its grounds remain central in the life of the Addington Anglican community, who hold it in high regard.

ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE Architectural and aesthetic values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular style, period or designer, design values, form, scale, colour, texture and material of the place.

St Mary's Church has high architectural and aesthetic significance as one of Christchurch city’s few remaining early timber churches and for its association with many notable Canterbury architects – Speechly and Crisp, Benjamin Mountfort, Frederick Strouts and more recently Don Donnithorne. The original St Mary's, opened in 1867, was the work of early Canterbury architects Speechly and Crisp, whilst the building took its present form under the guidance of pre-eminent Canterbury architect Benjamin Mountfort in 1880 when he doubled the building’s length and added vestries each side of the chancel. The 1880 extension is demarcated by the diagonal sarking of the roof structure, versus the plain sarking that was used previously. Later Frederick Strouts further extended the nave with a gabled south aisle in 1893, following a plan indicated by Mountfort back in 1880.

Examples of Speechly and Crisp’s work are relatively rare as they were not in Canterbury for long. Robert Speechly came to Christchurch in 1864 to oversee the construction of ChristChurch Cathedral. This came to a halt later that year, with the result that he acted as architect to the Church Property Trustees for the next few years. He was assisted by William Crisp who was his pupil until 1866 and his partner until May 1868. As well as St Mary’s they also designed Christ’s College Chapel and St Luke’s Vicarage.

Mountfort trained as an architect in England under Richard Carpenter, an important member of the Gothic Revival movement. Mountfort emigrated to New Zealand in 1850 and became New Zealand’s pre-eminent Gothic Revival architect. He has been credited with defining Christchurch’s Gothic Revival character with a group of major buildings including the Canterbury Museum, the Provincial Council Buildings and buildings at Canterbury College (later the Christchurch Arts Centre). Strouts also came from England, arriving in New Zealand in 1859, having trained with several English architectural firms. In 1867 he commenced a long association with the prominent Canterbury family, the Rhodes and was a prolific architect in Canterbury over his 40 year career. He also designed, among many other commissions, Ivey Hall which is now part of Lincoln University, Otahuna Lodge at Tai Tapu and the Rhodes Convalescent Home in Cashmere. The convalescent home was demolished following the Canterbury earthquakes.

Page 3 Don Donnithorne is a noted Christchurch architect whose practice, Don Donnithorne Architects has received widespread recognition for his achievements in designing a variety of buildings. In 1987 he received an MBE for his services to architecture in Canterbury. Donnithorne designed the new entry porch on the north façade, the new lobby interior wall and new kitchen facilities which were added in 1996.

The accretive form of the building was characteristic of many early city churches, whose expansion reflected that of their finances and congregations. Subsequent additions to the original church have produced an idiosyncratic but integrated building, with a separately gabled nave and aisles. The timber structure was stuccoed in 1960 and retains this finish. The interior of the church is also noteworthy, particularly the exposed trussed ceiling.

TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE Technological and craftsmanship values that demonstrate or are associated with: the nature and use of materials, finishes and/or technological or constructional methods which were innovative, or of notable quality for the period.

St Mary's Church has technological and craftsmanship significance for its timber construction and joinery, its fixtures and fittings, and interior features. The timber roof structure is particularly noteworthy. The church features a number of stained glass windows, including three by notable English firm Lavers and Barraud dating from 1875. It also houses other features of craftsmanship significance including lecterns, a font, timber pews and an organ.

CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE Contextual values that demonstrate or are associated with: a relationship to the environment (constructed and natural), a landscape, setting, group, precinct or streetscape; a degree of consistency in terms of type, scale, form, materials, texture, colour, style and/or detail; recognised landmarks and landscape which are recognised and contribute to the unique identity of the environment.

The church has high contextual significance as a church situated in the midst of the mature trees and open grassed space of Church Square, the only parish church in the city to occupy its own square, in a location which suggests an English village setting associated with the bell tower and lychgate. The setting of St Mary’s Church consists of the surrounding square, including the surrounding roads extending in a cruciform shape beyond the immediate square. The grassed areas extend informally beyond the tree lined perimeter of the church square, into road reserve land. Simple paths cross through the square on the north-south axis from the lychgate and on the east to west axis. The square provides a major focus for the suburb of Addington. As one of the city's few remaining early timber churches, St Mary's has a relationship with buildings such as St Mary's Heathcote, St Mary's Halswell, and St Paul's Papanui. The original core of the building is also part of the small group of works of Speechly and Crisp, which includes the chapel at Christ's College and St Saviour's Templeton; and the works of Benjamin Mountfort and Frederick Strouts. More broadly, the church is part of Christchurch's Gothic Revival heritage.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE Archaeological or scientific values that demonstrate or are associated with: the potential to provide information through physical or scientific evidence an understanding about social historical, cultural, spiritual, technological or other values of past events, activities, structures or people.

Page 4 St Mary’s Church and its setting are of archaeological significance because have the ability to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

ASSESSMENT STATEMENT

The Church of St Mary the Virgin (St Mary’s Church) and its setting are of overall high significance to Christchurch, including Banks Peninsula. St Mary’s Church has high historical and social significance as the Anglican parish church for Addington since 1867, as one of the oldest surviving timber churches in Christchurch city and for its association with prominent early Cantabrian Henry Sewell and New Zealand Premier Richard John Seddon. It has cultural and spiritual significance as a spiritual and social hub for Addington's Anglicans that has provided a place of spiritual worship for the community for nearly 150 years. St Mary's Church has high architectural and aesthetic significance as one of Christchurch city’s few remaining early timber churches and for its association with many notable Canterbury architects – Speechly and Crisp, Benjamin Mountfort, Frederick Strouts and more recently Don Donnithorne. St Mary's Church has technological and craftsmanship significance for its timber construction and joinery, its fixtures and fittings, and interior features. The church has high contextual significance as a church situated in the midst of the mature trees and open grassed space of Church Square, the only parish church in the city to occupy its own square, in a location which suggests an English village setting associated with the bell tower and lychgate. St Mary’s Church and its setting are of archaeological significance because have the ability to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

Page 5 DISTRICT PLAN –LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT –STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 1301 CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BELL TOWER AND SETTING - 30, 30E CHURCH SQUARE,CHRISTCHURCH

PHOTOGRAPH : M.VAIR-PIOVA, 23/12/2014

The church bell tower, built in 1907, has historical and social significance for its association with Richard 'King Dick' Seddon, the Liberal premier who died in office in 1906, and whose daughter was Rev. Walter Bean’s wife. Seddon is New Zealand’s longest serving prime minister to date. His nickname of ‘King Dick’ was engendered through his autocratic approach to the position and he is seen as the originator of the populist style of prime ministerial leadership in New Zealand. Of the various reforms undertaken by the Liberal government at the time, the one most closely associated with Seddon was the Old-Age Pensions Act. Of 1898, but he was also interested in workers’ housing and the welfare of teachers. Seddon had left some money just before his death, for some bells for the church. This became the start of a fund to erect a belfry with a set of bells as a memorial for him.

Page 6 Other than the belfry Seddon is known to have a prominent statue outside Parliament Buildings in Wellington, as well as another in Hokitika. There is a formal memorial in Wellington at the Kinross Street entrance to the Bolton Street Cemetery which has the Seddon family tomb located below it and a memorial in St Paul’s Cathedral London. The belfry at Addington is unusual in that it is a memorial erected by a local community, rather than a national memorial.

The bell tower has cultural and spiritual significance for its commemoration of Richard Seddon. Locating such a memorial in the church square is a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its congregation and the community. Bell ringing has been a part of church traditions since a hand bell was first used to call people to worship by the early missionaries in Britain. Change ringing became popular in the 17th century and flourished for two hundred years before deteriorating in the early 19th century and then regaining popularity in the mid 19th century. Church bells were silenced during World War II in Britain which had the effect of reviving interest in the art once peace returned. The bell tower along with the lychgate, church and grounds remain central in the life of the Addington community, who hold it in high regard.

The church bell tower has architectural and aesthetic significance as a Gothic Revival styled belfry designed by engineer Augustus Schwartz and architect Joseph Maddison. Schwartz’s original design was considered too plain and simple by the Church Property Trustees, in relation to the church, and so Maddison, who had designed the associated vicarage in the late 1870, suggested some modification. The design adopts a simple architectural form that is square in shape, tapering slightly towards the apex of the roof..There is a blind arcade of lancets on the central section, with open quatrefoils screened by wire mesh at the upper level where the bells hang. The roof was originally shingles but was replaced with metal.

Schwartz was churchwarden at St Mary’s and was also an engineer and the Inspector of Public Works for Canterbury. Schwartz had supervised the construction of the northern aisle of the church in 1900. Maddison was primarily a commercial and industrial architect, designing the Clarendon and Carlton Hotels, Wood's Mill, the 1906-7 International Exhibition Buildings and the Government Building in Cathedral Square. Maddison was particularly well- known as a designer of freezing works, and designed the Belfast Freezing Works for CFM Company.

Page 7 The bell tower has technological and craftsmanship as an example of early 20th century timber construction, for the craftsmanship of its detailing, and for the eight bells purchased from James Barwell of Birmingham.

The setting of the bell tower consists of the surrounding square, including the surrounding roads extending in a cruciform shape beyond the immediate square. The bell tower has high contextual significance for its position adjacent to the church situated in the midst of the mature trees of Church Square, in a location which suggests an English village setting. The square provides a major focus for the Addington community.

The bell tower at St Mary’s Church and its setting are of archaeological significance because have the ability to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

ASSESSMENT STATEMENT

St Mary’s Church bell tower and its setting are of overall significance to Christchurch, including Banks Peninsula. The church bell tower, built in 1907, has historical and social significance for its association with Richard 'King Dick' Seddon, the Liberal premier who died in office in 1906, and whose daughter was Rev. Walter Bean’s wife. It has cultural and spiritual significance for its commemoration of Richard Seddon. Locating such a memorial in the church square is a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its congregation and the community. The church bell tower has architectural and aesthetic significance as a Gothic Revival styled belfry designed by engineer Augustus Schwartz and architect Joseph Maddison. The bell tower has technological and craftsmanship as an example of early 20th century timber construction, for the craftsmanship of its detailing, and for the eight bells purchased from James Barwell of Birmingham. It has high contextual significance for its position adjacent to the church situated in the midst of the mature trees of Church Square, in a location which suggests an English village setting. The bell tower at St Mary’s Church and its setting are of archaeological significance because have the ability to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

Page 8 DISTRICT PLAN –LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT –STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 1302 CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN LYCHGATE AND SETTING –30, 30E CHURCH SQUARE,CHRISTCHURCH

PHOTOGRAPH : M.VAIR-PIOVA, 23/12/2014

The lychgate at St Mary’s Church, constructed in 1921, has historical and social significance for its association with the parishioners of Addington who died in the First World War and, although small in scale, as a reflection of the impact that the war had on the community. After the Great War over 500 public memorials were built around New Zealand to honour the soldiers who died and they are still an integral part of the fabric of the community.

Page 9 symbolic or commemorative value of the place; significance to Tangata Whenua; and/or associations with an identifiable group and esteemed by this group for its cultural values.

The lychgate as a memorial to the Addington parishioners who died in World War I has cultural and spiritual significance as a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its congregation. Lychgates were traditionally the place where corpse bearers carried the body of a deceased person and laid it on a communal bier, with part of the a burial ceremony being carried out under the shelter of the lychgate’s roof. As such they were classed as part of the church. In more recent times they are more commonly used as places to rest – where they have built in bench seats – and to shelter from the weather. The church and its grounds remain central in the life of the Addington community, who hold it in high regard.

The lychgate has architectural and aesthetic significance as an Arts and Crafts styled gate, demonstrating the continued influence of the Arts and Crafts movement at this time. Current research suggests that the design may have been from a contemporary pattern book. The gate was constructed by J&W Jamieson & Co. It is constructed of timber on a stone base with Gothic Revival forms which reflect elements of the church and belfry, with the flattening of the main arch and the detailing of the timberwork, particularly the stop chamfering and dentillation, illustrating the Arts and Crafts influence.

The lychgate has technological and craftsmanship significance as an example of Arts and Crafts style timberwork, particularly evident in the stop chamfering and dentilation.

The setting of the lychgate consists of the surrounding square, and includes the surrounding roads extending in a cruciform shape beyond the immediate square. The lychgate has high contextual significance for its position centrally along the north boundary of the square, providing a strongly accented entrance to the church grounds. The square provides a major focus for the suburb of Addington.

Page 10 The lychgate at St Mary’s Church and its setting are of archaeological significance because have the ability to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

ASSESSMENT STATEMENT

St Mary’s Church lychgate and its setting are of overall significance to Christchurch, including Banks Peninsula. The lychgate at St Mary’s Church, constructed in 1921, has historical and social significance for its association with the parishioners of Addington who died in the First World War and, although small in scale, as a reflection of the impact that the war had on the community. The lychgate as a memorial to the Addington parishioners who died in World War I has cultural and spiritual significance as a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its congregation. The lychgate has architectural and aesthetic significance as an Arts and Crafts styled gate, demonstrating the continued influence of the Arts and Crafts movement at this time. The lychgate has high contextual significance for its position centrally along the north boundary of the square, providing a strongly accented entrance to the church grounds. The lychgate at St Mary’s Church and its setting are of archaeological significance because have the ability to provide archaeological evidence relating to past building construction methods and materials, and human activity on the site, including that which occurred prior to 1900.

Page 11 DISTRICT PLAN –LISTED HERITAGE PLACE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT –STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE HERITAGE ITEM NUMBER 120 CHURCH SQUARE AND SETTING - 30, 30E CHURCH SQUARE,CHRISTCHURCH

PHOTOGRAPH : M.VAIR-PIOVA, 23/12/2014

St Mary’s Church Square has high historical and social significance for its demonstration of the efforts of the early Canterbury settlers to recreate the village landscapes they left behind, as the only square specifically to contain a parish church in the city, other than Cathedral Square and for its association with prominent early Cantabrian, Henry Sewell who set aside the land for the square and church from his own estate. Research to date suggests that the substantial square with its group of buildings – the Church of St Mary the Virgin, the bell tower and the lychgate – is unique in New Zealand. The planting of the lawns and holly trees for the square began in 1870 and continued for the next three years. The Domain Board donated the trees which began the establishment of a fine collection. Pathways were created through the grounds. The group of church buildings is situated in the midst of the open grassed area surrounded by mature trees of Church Square. The church is on the eastern side of the square, rather than central, balanced by the bell tower to the west. The lychgate is

Page 12 on the north side of the square and to the east and west there are small memorial gates, erected to commemorate former parishioners. The square provides a major focus for the suburb of Addington.

Church Square has cultural and spiritual significance as a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its congregation and for the various structures it contains that commemorate former parishioners – the small east and west memorial gates, the lychgate which commemorates those lost in World War I and the bell tower which commemorates Richard John Seddon. The square provides a place for church activities and for church and community to gather together for activities such as the annual fair. The square and the buildings it contains remain central in the life of the Addington community, who hold it in high regard.

Church Square has aesthetic significance as a planned square containing the parish church, bell tower and gates associated with the church. The square is an open grassed space, with a perimeter of mature trees, many remaining from the trees donated by the Domain Board in the 1870s. Pathways were created through the grounds. The group of church buildings is situated in the midst of the open grassed area. The church is on the eastern side of the square, rather than central, balanced by the bell tower to the west. The lychgate is on the north side of the square and to the east and west there are small memorial gates, erected to commemorate former parishioners. The early holly hedge in the square became difficult to maintain and in the 1990s the square was upgraded with the hedge being removed and replaced by a post and chain fence. The road on the southern half of the square was narrowed and closed to through traffic, and was landscaped as part of the reserve. In the 1980s a sculpture by artist Lou Summer was set up in the square near the lychgate, being a model for a larger work commissioned for the Timaru Public Library.

Technological and craftsmanship significance related to Church Square are associated with the structures within the square, rather than the square itself.

Page 13 The setting for St Mary’s Church Square consists of the surrounding roads extending in a cruciform shape beyond the immediate square. This area provides for views to the square from the approaching streets, and recognises the role of the surrounding streets in helping to define and maintain the square’s form. The square has high contextual significance as a major focus for the suburb of Addington, including being the focal and finishing point of views from the surrounding streets. A key part of the square and its setting is the ratio of green open space to built and paved areas.

Church Square has archaeological significance because it has the potential to provide archaeological evidence relating to human activity on the site, possibly including that which occurred prior to 1900.

ASSESSMENT STATEMENT

Church Square and its setting are of overall high significance to Christchurch including Banks Peninsula. It has high historical and social significance for its demonstration of the efforts of the early Canterbury settlers to recreate the village landscapes they left behind, as the only square specifically to contain a parish church in the city, other than Cathedral Square and for its association with prominent early Cantabrian, Henry Sewell who set aside the land for the square and church from his own estate. The square has cultural and spiritual significance as a reflection of the centrality of the site in the social and religious lives of its congregation and for the various structures it contains that commemorate former parishioners – the small east and west memorial gates, the lychgate which commemorates those lost in World War I and the bell tower which commemorates Richard John Seddon. Church Square has aesthetic significance as a planned square containing the parish church, bell tower and gates associated with the church. The square has high contextual significance as a major focus for the suburb of Addington, including being the focal and finishing point of views from the surrounding streets. Church Square has archaeological significance because it has the potential to provide archaeological evidence relating to human activity on the site, possibly including that which occurred prior to 1900.

REFERENCES:

Christchurch City Council, Heritage File, –St Mary’s Church, Addington – Church Square Christchurch City Council, Christchurch City Plan – Listed Heritage Item and Setting. Heritage Assessment – Statement of Significance. St Mary’s Church Virgin Church, Belltower, Lychgate and Settings – Church Square – 2011 http://stmarysaddington.org/wordpress/ http://www.bellringing.org/history/ http://www.britainexpress.com/church-history.htm?term=Lych+Gate http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-monuments-war-graves/seddon- memorial http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2s11/seddon-richard-john

REPORT DATED: 03/12/2014

Page 14 PLEASE NOTE THIS ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF WRITING.DUE TO THE ONGOING NATURE OF HERITAGE RESEARCH, FUTURE REASSESSMENT OF THIS HERITAGE ITEM MAY BE NECESSARY TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE.

PLEASE USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CCC HERITAGE FILES.

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