St Peter's Church, Purangi.

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Purangi, Taranaki, New Zealand.

This was not the first Church built in the area. There was an earlier Maori Church built by the Ngatu Maru iwi of the area. But it burned down in a bush fire c. 1895. The only thing saved being the bell, which had originally come from an old wreak.

It was the influence of Rev Frederick Augustus Bennett, who came to teach the Gospel in Taranaki in 1903 who inspired the rebuilding of a new Church. Renowned for his skills in oratory in both Maori and English, Rev F. A. Bennett went on to become the 1st Maori Bishop of Aotearoa.

It was appropriate that what he inspired became a joint Maori and Pakeha venture. The land on which St Peter’s Church is built was given by two European men, C.H. Harding and C.H. Roberts, and the two main builders were brothers; Tutanuku Tume and Te Manihera Tume. A third carpenter was Tohe Pakanga, who was Te Manihera’s grandson. There were originally beautiful carvings on the front of the Church created by Te Kaporere Patuwairua of Wanganui and it has also been said that Kupuranu Whetuwera did some of the Church carving. The only paid work involved was that of Mr W.F. Dowman who shingled the roof. Young Billy Bertrand, Te Manihera’s great-great-grand nephew and Tutanuku Tume’s adopted son acted as the “go-for”, doing odd jobs when he wasn’t at school.

The Church originally had beautiful decorated Maori panels, gabled frontage, a carved head (tekoteko) and Maori carved cross at the apex. A photo of it with them still in place can be viewed at St Peter's Church, Purangi.

The Church was dedicated by Archdeacon of Taranaki, Ven R.H. Cole DCL ,and officially opened on St Peter’s Day, 29 June 1906. Many important people were present both Maori and Pakeha and the Archdeacon did his sermon in both Te Reo and English. After the formalities, the Maori people of Purangi put on huge feast for all of their guests. In the afternoon the Maori people had a korero and the evening was spent by guests being treated to a display of poi dancing and other traditional Maori entertainment.

Minor alterations and maintenance have since occured.

1912: The Shingle roof was replaced with Iron.

1920's: Mr. Frank Webb made and donated a casket in which the Church linens and hangings are able to be kept.

1928: A vestry was added, and concrete paths laid. That year books and kneelers were donated by the newly formed Ladies Guild of Purangi.

1929: A funding drive, allowed the purchase of a white linen altar cloth and white sateen for a curtain behind the altar. A psalm book and surplice was also provided.

1930: The Church got a fresh coat of paint.

1932: Now Bishop F. A. Bennett, presented and dedicated an Alter Cross to the little Church. It was fashioned out of the original centrepole of the old Pukemahoe Church (it's predecessor) and the inscription on its base reads:

Made from the centrepole of a Maori Church which was erected at Pukemahoe, Taranaki, about the years 1853-1855. Owing to the outbreak of war between the two races in 1860 it fell into disuse, gradually became a ruin and was eventually accidentally burnt. The centre pole was the only part that remained and for forty years still pointed heavenwards. This part of the pole that escaped the fire was cut down in 1903 and this cross was made from it.

1950's: Once again the Church got a fresh coat of paint.

1957: The floorboards in the vestry were replaced. using donated timber from Mr. M. Rawlinson and and further donations of altar frontal and drapes were given by the Matau Guild.

1958: The vestry floor was varnished and new altar rail kneelers and cushions appeared.

The Purangi Cemetery is on Purangi Terrace, separated from the Mangahau Pa. This is across the river from St Peter’s. Ex-school pupils remember being able to see from their window the funeral procession and casket being carried by horse and cart along the road and then being put upon a canoe-like vessel to float it across the river to the cemetery. There was a Church graveyard too though, and a number of Maori people were buried around the front of the Church. Unfortunately the headstones would have been made of wood or a sort-stone, so they no longer remain. Also, as it was not an official cemetery its unlikely that any records will ever be found. It is believed that Tutanuku Tume was buried there though, in 1917. Two concrete plots do exist, but these do not have headstones on them. It is possible that the last burial there was sometime in the 1940s.

1982: A white wooden fence was erected from two corners of the Church.

1984: The Maori panels, gabled frontage, the carved head (tekoteko) and the cross at the apex had all become dilapidated and were buried beside the Church on the left-hand side of the building.

1986: A new green colorsteel roof was put on. The hardships of time had been felt on a lot of the wooden parts of the building too, so the verandah was rebuilt, with a large amount of the timber being replaced.

1991: Maori Trade Trainees from the Taranaki Polytechnic Painting and Decorating course repainted St Peter’s again. This was done in preparation for the centennial celebrations held in April, during which the lovely little Church shone as it had when it was first opened some 85 years earlier.

The Church houses the 2 rolls of Honour for Purangi. It still retains the Altar Cross donated by Bishop F. A. Bennett and the Original Bell. The church is still serving its community and is nearing it's 100 year Anniversary. St Peter's stands silently upon its hill at the old settlement of Purangi as a reminder of what can be achieved in unity between Maori and Pakeha in the love of God.

Sources

• Leslie P. G. Smith, Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford; St Peter's Church, Tu Ki Te Arero, Purangi 1906. pdf. Free no copyright listed.
• Rev Canon Ken Booth, 'For All the Saints', Frederick Augustus Bennett, The 1st Maori Bishop of Aotearoa, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia; accessed 18 July 2023.