Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The Mauriceville area was settled in the early 1870s by an exclusively Scandinavian people under Vogel's immigration policy. Most of the immigrants arrived on board the 'England' in March 1872, and settled in the north of the district. In 1879 a church site of 5 acres was acquired and cleared of bush. In 1880 Otto Christoffensen was appointed Methodist Home Minister, and he designed and built the church to hold seventy persons. Mauriceville North and Eketahuna were constituted a "Home Mission Station" in 1891. Services were held in English from 1892, and in 1894 Mauriceville North was made a circuit and a minister was stationed there to service it. Each year, in July, an anniversary service is held in the church.

Physical Significance

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: The church is an interesting example of non-conformist Gothic architecture, as it has its main entrance through the side rather than the front which was conventional. Wesleyan Methodists were consistent users of Gothic for church architecture in Britain in Victorian times, and congregational chapels were distinguished by steep tall spires. This church reflects, however, Norwegian architectural lines, in keeping with the congregation's heritage and the minister's knowledge. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK SIGNIFICANCE: The church's siting on the crest of a hill makes it a minor landmark in the district.