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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 2 (May 1, 1936)

[section]

(Photo., Havelock Williams, Timaru.) St. David's Memorial Church, at Cave.

(Photo., Havelock Williams, Timaru.)
St. David's Memorial Church, at Cave.

Only in the world's great cities may classical buildings be seen that attract sight-seers from the ends of the earth; but New Zealand can now claim to possess a building that is attracting increasing numbers of people within her own borders and many a visitor from overseas. But this building is not in any of her cities—not even in a village, but in the “way back,” where it stands in all its artistic and romantic beauty, placed there as a monument. It is therefore, surely, unique.

This building is St. David's Memorial Church, situated on the crest of a low hill some twenty miles from Timaru. Remarkable alike, as stated, with regard to the site, but more so for its architecture, the mode and materials of its construction, and, above all, shall we say, the conception and purpose it is designed to serve.

It is safe to say that in hardly one feature is this building like any other church of which the writer has knowledge. No other combines within or without its walls so much that is romantic, poetic, chaste—the expression of a noble sentiment and a gracious memory. That may sound a big claim, for a building situate away in the “out-back” of Canterbury, but as proof of its justification, the New Zealand Institute of Architects awarded the gold medal for 1934 for the building of best design in New Zealand since 1930 to the architect for the building, Mr. H. W. Hall, of Timaru.

Quite appropriately this church might be termed the “Cathedral in the Wilderness” (although, be it noted, the surrounding country possesses scenery both varied and beautiful). But, excepting the Railway siding buildings and a few dwellings in the valley below, there is no township within miles.

The building is on the property of T. D. Burnett, Esq., and built by him primarily in memory of his parents, Andrew and Catherine Burnett, who settled in the Mackenzie Country when that frigid region was still in its pristine wildness; and secondly, to commemorate also, the noble band of pioneer run-holders who took up runs in the Mackenzie and other South Canterbury areas enfolded by the snowclad Southern Alps. On the walls of the Church are the names of the original run-holders—some forty-odd—with name of the run, its area, and date of occupation. But interesting as such records undoubtedly are, it is when we come to the architectural design, variety of detail, and the rare artistry of its execution, that the beholder is filled with the wonder of the unexpected; and spell-bound by the accumulated effects of this chaste memorial, born of a memory that truly carries the heat and colour of its birthplace—the heart of the one to whom the whole edifice owes its being.

The Church is built of boulders gathered from the nearby hills (what a labour?) all carefully selected for size, colour and texture, the boulders being split to show the colour. The roof is of split slates from Westmoreland—probably the finest obtainable. The spouting and downpipes are of thick copper.

The porch is paved with smaller stones, but the steps of bigger ones; and here one may halt to gaze on the rugged mountains that lie behind. When the worshipper leaves the Church there is cover overhead, but no glass to obscure the view, which may be of sheep in the far distance. On a slab of Timaru blue stone is inscribed these words:—

“This porch is erected to the Glory of God, and in memory of the sheepmen, shepherds, bullock-drivers, shearers, station hands—who pioneered the back country of the Province between the years 1855 and 1895.”

The light above in the porch is the actual masthead light of a ship that entered Timaru roadstead before there were any harbour works, and the lamp sheds rays of electric light generated in the far Highlands.