All Saints' Church is a heritage-listed

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

located in

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. Established in 1865, the church is part of the Dunedin North parish in the Diocese of Dunedin. The church building has a Category I listing with the

New Zealand Historic Places Trust Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (initially the National Historic Places Trust and then, from 1963 to 2014, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust; in ) is a Crown entity that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage bui ...

Parish

The parish comprises the former parish of All Saints and the former parish of St. Martin's North East Valley. The parish boundaries include North East Valley, Pine Hill, North Dunedin, Ravensbourne and

Leith Valley Leith Valley is a suburb, valley, and general area of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, located to the northwest of the city centre. To differentiate the name of the valley from that of the suburb, the former is usually referred to as ''the'' Le ...

Church building

The building is the oldest church still used as a place of worship in Dunedin. All Saints' Church is the chapel of

Selwyn College, Otago Selwyn College is a residential college affiliated to the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was founded by Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill as a theological college training clergy for the Anglican Church and as a hall of residence ...

. The college was built around the church and the college and parish have a close relationship. Selwyn College was built as an Anglican theological college in 1893, from the beginning it also housed non-theological students from the university. All Saints' is located close to the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

Architecture

The nave of the church was designed by William H. Clayton and built in 1865; the transepts and chancel, designed by

William Mason William, Willie, or Willy Mason may refer to: Arts and entertainment *William Mason (poet) (1724–1797), English poet, editor and gardener *William Mason (architect) (1810–1897), New Zealand architect *William Mason (composer) (1829–1908), Ame ...

were added in 1873. All Saints' is an example of

gothic revival architecture Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an Architectural style, architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half ...

. A notable architectural feature is the

polychrome brickwork Polychrome brickwork is a style of architectural brickwork in which bricks of different colours are used to create decorative patterns or highlight architectural features in the walls of a building. Historically it was used in the late Gothic per ...

. The bricks came from the brickworks in Filleul Street, Dunedin. Also used in the building is Oamaru stone, an early use of the stone in Dunedin. In 1969, All Saints' Church was restored, in which the foundations, hardwood floor, and slate roof were replaced. At this time a nave altar was installed with altar rails designed by

Ted McCoy Edward John McCoy (23 February 1925 – 17 January 2018), generally known as Ted McCoy, was a New Zealand architect whose practice was based in Dunedin. He designed the sanctuary of St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, St Paul's Cathedral (completed ...

Art

Notable art works in the church include a large

rood A rood or rood cross, sometimes known as a triumphal cross, is a cross or crucifix, especially the large crucifix set above the entrance to the chancel of a medieval church. Alternatively, it is a large sculpture or painting of the crucifixio ...

hanging above the sanctuary carved by leading sculptor Frederick George Gurnsey (1868–1953) who also carved the

aumbry An ambry (or ''almery'', ''aumbry''; from the medieval form ''almarium'', cf. Lat. ''armārium'', "a place for keeping tools"; cf. O. Fr. ''aumoire'' and mod. armoire) is a recessed cabinet in the wall of a Christian church for storing sacred vesse ...

door and the

pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, accesse ...

. A small

Christus Rex Christ the King is a title of Jesus in Christianity referring to the idea of the Kingdom of God where Christ is described as being seated at the right hand of God. Many Christian denominations consider the kingly office of Christ to be one of ...

by the eminent New Zealand sculptor

Ria Bancroft Ria Bancroft (1907 – 8 March 1993) was a British-New Zealand artist born in England. She created the Tabernacle Screen Doors for Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Christchurch and her works are held in several New Zealand art galleries. ...

is above the pulpit. In 2017 a set of ceramic sculptures of the

Scriptural Way of the Cross The Scriptural Way of the Cross or Scriptural Stations of the Cross is a modern version of the ancient Christianity, Christian, especially Roman Catholic devotion, Catholic, devotion called the Stations of the Cross. This version was inaugurate ...

Whanganui Whanganui, also spelt Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whanganui is ...

sculptor Kirk Nicholls was installed. In 2019 an appeal was launched to install a stained glass window in memory of the

Ross Sea Party The Ross Sea party was a component of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Its task was to lay a series of supply depots across the Great Ice Barrier from the Ross Sea to the Beardmore Glacier, along the polar ...

and in honour of Rev.

Arnold Spencer-Smith Arnold Patrick Spencer-Smith (17 March 1883 – 9 March 1916) was an English clergyman and amateur photographer who joined Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition as chaplain on the Ross Sea party, who were ...

History

All Saints' parish was organised before the Diocese of Dunedin was formed in 1869; for the first few years of the parish it was part of the Diocese of Christchurch. The land was given by James Allen Senior, father of James Allen and the foundation stone laid on 11 February 1865 by Henry Harper 1st Bishop of Christchurch. The church was built rapidly (admittedly only the nave and narthex) and opened on 23 July 1865. The church was consecrated on 21 April 1869. At the 1886 Annual General Meeting the parish discussed an offer from the Bishop Samuel Tarratt Nevill 'to take over the Parish Church for the purpose of making it the Cathedral of the Diocese, and to facilitate the legal transfer by contributing £2,000 towards liquidating the debt on the property, at that time £2,600.' The AGM agreed to the bishop's offer however the project failed, 'the General Synod hesitating on legal grounds to sanction the transfer of the property.' The Church made national news in 2017 when its vicar crashed his car while drunk on the way to the Sunday 10:30 service.

Vicars

# Rev. E.H. Granger 1865–1872 # Rev. R.L. Stanford 1872–1879 # Very Rev Alfred R. Fitchett

Alfred Fitchett Alfred Robertson Fitchett (1836 – 19 April 1929) was the St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, Dean of Dunedin from 1894 until 1929. Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, in 1836, Fitchett was ordained in 1879, and graduated Master of Arts, MA f ...

1879–1928 ( Dean of Dunedin 1894–1929) # Fr. William Hardy-Johnson 1928–1935 (Rector of

Rosslyn Chapel Rosslyn Chapel, also known as the Collegiate Chapel of Saint Matthew, is a 15th-century Scottish Episcopal Church, Episcopal chapel located in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. The chapel was founded by William Si ...

1923–1928) # Ven. L.G. Whitehead 1935–1948 Algy Whitehead also Warden of Selwyn College # Fr. Charles Harrison 1948–1964 # Rev. Canon Arthur Philip Atkinson Gaze 1964–1980 (Cousin of

) # Rev. Dr. John Irwin 1980–1983 # Fr. David Best 1983–1997 # Rev. Canon Erice Fairbrother 1999–2002 # Fr. Tim Hurd 2002–2009 # Rev. Canon Michael Wallace 2010–

Notable parishioners

* James Allen, a politician who served as a

churchwarden A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish or congregation of the Anglican Communion, Lutheran Churches or Catholic Church, usually working as a part-time volunteer. In the Anglican tradition, holders of these positions are ''ex officio'' mem ...

* George Bell (1809-1899), a newspaper editor and proprietor who served as a

* George Eliot Elliott, Clerk at signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi and who saved it from fire in 1841 * Thomas Sherlock Graham *

Frances Frances is an English given name or last name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'the French.' The male version of the name in English is Francis (given name), Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "F ...

and William Matthew Hodgkins, artists * Choie Sew Hoy and Eliza Prescott who lived in a house known as Canton Villa at 798 Cumberland St. The site to the north of the vicarage is now owned by the parish. *

William Larnach William James Mudie Larnach (27 January 1833 – 12 October 1898) was a New Zealand businessman and politician. He is known for his extravagant incomplete house near Dunedin called Larnach's castle by his opponents and now known as Larnach Cas ...

Larnach Castle Larnach Castle (also referred to as "Larnach's Castle") is a mock castle on the ridge of the Otago Peninsula within the limits of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, close to the small settlement of Pukehiki. It is one of a few houses of this ...

* Alois Duffus Lubecki (died 1926), a founder of the church, was a Polish Prince, son of Prince Alois Konstanty Drucki-Lubecki (1814-1864). Lubecki was a member of Diocesan Synod, Diocesan Standing Committee and the Diocesan Trust Board. He endowed scholarships at the University of Otago and the University of Auckland. * Dr. Richardson, after whom the Richardson building at the University Of Otago is named * Charles Henry Ritchie, curate at All Saints 1920-1922, part of the family of the influential John McFarlane Ritchie * Shelley Griffiths, a legal academic at the University of Otago, is chair of the trust board supporting All Saints

Worship

Worship at All Saints' is in the

Anglo-Catholic Anglo-Catholicism comprises beliefs and practices that emphasise the Catholicism, Catholic heritage (especially pre-English Reformation, Reformation roots) and identity of the Church of England and various churches within Anglicanism. Anglo-Ca ...

tradition. Incense and bells are used for High Mass.

Music

The first organ at All Saints was donated by the first vicar in 1871: "(Mr Granger) has to act as organist- or rather harmonium player- and later he presented the Church with an organ." Mr. Granger left All Saints in 1872. This organ went to Holy Trinity Church,

Lawrence, New Zealand Lawrence is a small town in Otago, in New Zealand's South Island. It is located on New Zealand State Highway 8, State Highway 8, the main route from Dunedin to the inland towns of Queenstown, New Zealand, Queenstown and Alexandra, New Zealand, Al ...

in 1874. The second All Saints' organ (1874-1905), has a label on the back: 'John B. West, Organ Builder, Dunedin, New Zealand’, however, it appears that this label has been pasted over the position occupied by a former label and it may be a Halmshaw & Sons organ. This organ was re-located to the original wooden 1863 St Peter's Church in

Queenstown, New Zealand Queenstown () is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is the seat and largest town in the Queenstown-Lakes District. The town located on the northwestern edge of Lake Wakatipu, a long, thin, Z-shaped lake ...

in 1906. The third and current organ was built by Bevington & Sons, a London firm founded in 1794. Two of the most notable Bevington organs are in

St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin Saint Patrick's Cathedral () in Dublin, Ireland is the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral, also a Church of Ireland cathedral in Dublin, is designated as the local cathedral of ...

and

St Martin-in-the-Fields St Martin-in-the-Fields is a Church of England parish church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, there has been a church on the site since at least the medieval pe ...

, London. Bevington organs won medals at exhibitions in Paris (1855 and 1867) and London (1862), and are held in high regard for the quality of their construction and voicing. The firm was absorbed into Hill, Norman and Beard in 1944. All Saints' Bevington organ was built in 1877 for St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Christchurch. In 1905 the organ was transferred to All Saints. It was restored in 1969 by the South Island Organ Company. The two manuals have tracker action, and the pedals have tubular pneumatic action. In recent years a Bourdon pedal stop has been added. All Saints' organ is one of three Bevington organs in Aotearoa New Zealand, the others being at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Christchurch and at St. John the Baptist Waimate North.

All Saints' Hall

All Saints' Hall was built as the Cumberland St Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. It is constructed from timber from the Bell Hill Methodist Church (1862-8) designed by George Greenfield. During a gale in 1862 the Bell Hill church was badly twisted and deemed unsafe until the addition of a transept designed by

permitted its reuse in February 1863. Its poor design and inconvenient position prompted its early demolition. From the sale of the Bell Hill property in 1868 £150 was set aside for the building of a new church. A weatherboard schoolhouse able to accommodate 150 worshippers was built on a quarter acre of freehold next to All Saints given by James Allen. The hall was erected in 1869, but the Wesleyan Methodist congregation didn't last very long - until about 1872. The front portion of the hall has windows designed by prominent Dunedin architect Basil Hooper and installed in 1911. The University of Otago creche was established in the hall in 1968. Araiteuru Maori club (with

Muru Walters Muru Walters (16 January 1935 – 14 February 2024) was a New Zealand author, master carver, broadcaster, artist, rugby union player and Māori Anglican bishop. He was the first Pīhopa (bishop) of Te Pīhopatanga o Te Upoko o Te Ika from his c ...

as leader) used the hall before Araiteuru Marae was built.

References

External links

* {{Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, state=collapsed Churches completed in 1869 19th-century Anglican church buildings in New Zealand Anglo-Catholic churches in New Zealand Churches in Dunedin Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in Otago Listed churches in New Zealand 1860s churches in New Zealand William Clayton (architect) buildings Gothic Revival church buildings in New Zealand 1865 establishments in New Zealand