St Luke’s Church
Altar of St Luke’s church made of kohekohe wood without nails.
In March 1868, George Henry Wilson recorded seeing at Pukerua a few planks from a church which he believed had last been used at least fourteen years before. This was Pukerua’s first church which would have been built in the 1840s.
A long narrow section between Beach Road and Haunui Road was donated by Mrs Elizabeth Gray to build a Methodist church. In February 1951 the first men’s working bee prepared the site for construction. It was estimated that some 1500 man-hours were given to construct the church. The first modern church built in Pukerua Bay, it had several novel features. The sanctuary end of the building was screened by swing doors for when the building was in use as a general hall.
The Dedication Service of St Luke’s Church, conducted by the president of the Methodist Conference, Rev G I Laurensen, was held on 22 March 1952. The anthem Surely the Lord is in This Place, composed by Mr Christopher Thompson, one of the trustees of St Luke’s, was sung by the Hataitai Methodist Choir.
From the beginning, “It is hoped that the new church hall will be a place of worship and of Christian youth work, and also a cultural and social amenity in Pukerua Bay.” (Kapi Mana News 2 April 1952) Presbyterians have worshipped in the church from the late 1950s, with services conducted alternately by Methodist and Presbyterian ministers.
The Wall family donated a kohekohe tree from bush on their farm for the altar which was built by Mr Norman Scrimgeour. Jesus was a carpenter and the design is a plain work bench with a simple vice. No nails were used with all joints secured by wooden pins. It is also appropriate that St Luke’s was largely built by the voluntary labour of the men of the Church.
The hall has been available for social gatherings and other activities including life-saving demonstrations, dancing classes, doctor’s surgery, library, garden club, film evenings, political and local body meetings, polling booth, CWI functions, birthday parties, a Golden Wedding celebration, Brownie and Guide meetings, Bible classes and youth groups.
References
Superintendent – General Inwards Letters and Letters from the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the General Government – George H Wilson, Pahautanui [Pauatahanui] – 7 July 1868, R17834668, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga.
