Presbyterian services in the small settlement of Ōtepopo were held in woolsheds from around 1858. By 1865 the growing community wanted a church building. They contracted noted Dunedin architect R.A. Lawson to design the small church. It was the architect’s first experience of working with Ōamaru stone. The rectangular church, of English Gothic design, was formally opened on 7 May 1866. The exterior was plainly detailed with trefoil lancet windows alternated with fixed buttresses along the nave. The interiors included polished Ōamaru stone, moulded stone corbels and the roof was diagonally lined wood with an oak stain which contrasted with the Ōamaru stone walls.
Ōtepopo became a separate charge in 1871 and it soon became clear the existing church building was too small. In May 1875, Mason and Wales advertised for tenders for the erection of additions to the Ōtepopo Presbyterian Church, as it was often called. By the end of July the works were underway. The design was prepared by N.Y.A. Wales. Wales’ design was called ‘beautiful and compact’. The new addition, opened in 1876, included transepts which provided space for an additional 200 seats. Cruciform in plan, a tower and spire were also tucked into the angle between the transept and nave. The tower was two levels. Paired windows were on the first level and a belfry was set above. Entrances were located at two corners of the transept as well as the end of the nave.
In 1886 John Lemon, of noted Ōamaru architectural firm Lemon and Forrester, became involved with the church. Lemon largely took the role of business manager in the firm and Forrester, the architectural design. Nevertheless it was John Lemon’s name that appeared in the tender for re-roofing of the church.
In 1898, St John’s underwent an extensive renovation – particularly the interior. A century later, in 1998, the roof was damaged by fire. The original elements were replaced but matched to the original as closely as possible. The Herbert congregation was in decline, however. By 2012 St John’s was still used for weekly services for the consolidated Ōtepopo-Maheno parish but its future was uncertain. In 2015 the community celebrated the 150th anniversary of the church but regular services were no longer held there. In 2018 the church found a new life as the New Zealand Organ Museum. While regular services are no longer held, the pretty Ōamaru stone building which encompasses the contributions of three leading nineteenth century architectural firms continues to grace the Herbert township.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
2416
Date Entered
7th April 1983
Date of Effect
7th April 1983
City/District Council
Waitaki District
Region
Otago Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 2 DP 21555 (RT OT13B/369), Otago Land District, and the building known as St John’s Presbyterian Church (Former) thereon.
Legal description
Lot 2 DP 21555 (RT OT13B/369), Otago Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
2416
Date Entered
7th April 1983
Date of Effect
7th April 1983
City/District Council
Waitaki District
Region
Otago Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 2 DP 21555 (RT OT13B/369), Otago Land District, and the building known as St John’s Presbyterian Church (Former) thereon.
Legal description
Lot 2 DP 21555 (RT OT13B/369), Otago Land District
Construction Professional
Name
King, Robert
Type
Stonemason
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Wales, Nathaniel Young Armstrong
Type
Architect
Biography
Wales was born in Northumberland, England, and educated at Jedburgh, Scotland. He immigrated to Australia in 1854 and found employment as a carpenter working on the buildings for the first exhibition held in Melbourne. He arrived in Dunedin about 1863, and was a clerk of works for William Mason on the old Bank of New Zealand Building (1862-64), the Post Office Building (1864-68) and the Port Chalmers Graving Dock (1868-72). Wales entered partnership with William Mason in 1871. The firm of Mason and Wales was responsible for many fine buildings in Dunedin including Bishopscourt (1873), St Matthew's Church (1873), Government Life Insurance Building (1897) and Wains Hotel (1878). Wales had military and political interests and was a Member of Parliament for some years. He occupied a seat on the Dunedin Harbour Board and was a Dunedin City Councillor. In 1895 he was elected Mayor of Dunedin. In 1900 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Nathaniel Wales worked for William Mason as a clerk of works during the 1860s on the old Bank of New Zealand building and on the Post Office building which became the Stock Exchange. He also had the thankless task of being clerk of works to the Port Chalmers Dry dock. Wales began work on his own as an architect untrained, and asked Mason to come back from retirement to enable him to join his firm which became Mason and Wales in 1871 at a time when Wales was building the first part of the Iona Union church at Port Chalmers. Mason retied for good in 1874 and Wales became the senior partner in the firm. Wales designed the Campbell Park Homestead in 1876 and received the commission for the stables about 1878, along with some cottages for the farm labourers. One of his notable buildings is his own big house at 38 Belgrave Crescent (1870), built of stone quarried from the site.
Name
King, Thomas
Type
Stonemason
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Lemon, John
Type
Architect
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Lawson, Robert Arthur
Type
Architect
Biography
Born in Scotland, Lawson (1833-1902) began his professional career in Perth. At the age of 25 he moved to Melbourne and was engaged in goldmining and journalism before resuming architectural practice. In 1862 Lawson sailed for Dunedin, where his sketch plans had won the competition for the design of First Church. This was built 1867-73. Lawson went on to become one of the most important architects in New Zealand. First Church is regarded as his masterpiece and one of the finest nineteenth century churches in New Zealand. He was also responsible for the design of the Trinity Church (now Fortune Theatre), Dunedin (1869-70), the East Taieri Presbyterian Church (1870), and Knox Church, Dunedin (1874). He designed Park's School (1864) and the ANZ Bank (originally Union Bank, 1874). In Oamaru he designed the Bank of Otago (later National Bank building, 1870) and the adjoining Bank of New South Wales (now Forrester Gallery, 1881). See also: Ledgerwood, Norman, 2013. 'R.A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin'. Historic Cemeteries Conservation NZ.
Name
Smith, George
Type
Builder
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
McDonald, Robert
Type
Builder
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Construction Details
Finish Year
1886
Type
Maintenance/repairs
Description
Church re-roofed
Finish Year
1898
Type
Refurbishment/renovation
Description
Interior and exterior renovations
Finish Year
1998
Type
Maintenance/repairs
Description
Roof fire and subsequent repairs
Finish Year
1866
Type
Original Construction
Description
Original portion of church constructed
Start Year
1875
Finish Year
1876
Type
Addition
Description
Additions to church including transept and spire
Construction Professional
Name
King, Robert
Type
Stonemason
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Wales, Nathaniel Young Armstrong
Type
Architect
Biography
Wales was born in Northumberland, England, and educated at Jedburgh, Scotland. He immigrated to Australia in 1854 and found employment as a carpenter working on the buildings for the first exhibition held in Melbourne. He arrived in Dunedin about 1863, and was a clerk of works for William Mason on the old Bank of New Zealand Building (1862-64), the Post Office Building (1864-68) and the Port Chalmers Graving Dock (1868-72). Wales entered partnership with William Mason in 1871. The firm of Mason and Wales was responsible for many fine buildings in Dunedin including Bishopscourt (1873), St Matthew's Church (1873), Government Life Insurance Building (1897) and Wains Hotel (1878). Wales had military and political interests and was a Member of Parliament for some years. He occupied a seat on the Dunedin Harbour Board and was a Dunedin City Councillor. In 1895 he was elected Mayor of Dunedin. In 1900 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Nathaniel Wales worked for William Mason as a clerk of works during the 1860s on the old Bank of New Zealand building and on the Post Office building which became the Stock Exchange. He also had the thankless task of being clerk of works to the Port Chalmers Dry dock. Wales began work on his own as an architect untrained, and asked Mason to come back from retirement to enable him to join his firm which became Mason and Wales in 1871 at a time when Wales was building the first part of the Iona Union church at Port Chalmers. Mason retied for good in 1874 and Wales became the senior partner in the firm. Wales designed the Campbell Park Homestead in 1876 and received the commission for the stables about 1878, along with some cottages for the farm labourers. One of his notable buildings is his own big house at 38 Belgrave Crescent (1870), built of stone quarried from the site.
Name
King, Thomas
Type
Stonemason
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Lemon, John
Type
Architect
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
Lawson, Robert Arthur
Type
Architect
Biography
Born in Scotland, Lawson (1833-1902) began his professional career in Perth. At the age of 25 he moved to Melbourne and was engaged in goldmining and journalism before resuming architectural practice. In 1862 Lawson sailed for Dunedin, where his sketch plans had won the competition for the design of First Church. This was built 1867-73. Lawson went on to become one of the most important architects in New Zealand. First Church is regarded as his masterpiece and one of the finest nineteenth century churches in New Zealand. He was also responsible for the design of the Trinity Church (now Fortune Theatre), Dunedin (1869-70), the East Taieri Presbyterian Church (1870), and Knox Church, Dunedin (1874). He designed Park's School (1864) and the ANZ Bank (originally Union Bank, 1874). In Oamaru he designed the Bank of Otago (later National Bank building, 1870) and the adjoining Bank of New South Wales (now Forrester Gallery, 1881). See also: Ledgerwood, Norman, 2013. 'R.A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin'. Historic Cemeteries Conservation NZ.
Name
Smith, George
Type
Builder
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Name
McDonald, Robert
Type
Builder
Biography
No biography is currently available for this construction professional
Construction Details
Finish Year
1886
Type
Maintenance/repairs
Description
Church re-roofed
Finish Year
1898
Type
Refurbishment/renovation
Description
Interior and exterior renovations
Finish Year
1998
Type
Maintenance/repairs
Description
Roof fire and subsequent repairs
Finish Year
1866
Type
Original Construction
Description
Original portion of church constructed
Start Year
1875
Finish Year
1876
Type
Addition
Description
Additions to church including transept and spire
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
4th June 2019
Report Written By
Susan Irvine
Information Sources
Knight, 1999
Hardwicke Knight, Church Building in Otago, [Hardwicke Knight, Dunedin], 1999
McKenzie, 1988
Dorothy McKenzie, Otepopo and Herbert Township, Otago Heritage Books, Dunedin, 1988
Otepopo Presbyterian Church, 1915
Otepopo Presbyterian Church, Jubilee Souvenir 1865-1915, March 1915, Ōamaru, 1915
Ledgerwood (2013)
Norman Ledgerwood, R.A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin, Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand, Dunedin, 2013
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A fully referenced Upgrade Report is available on request from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
4th June 2019
Report Written By
Susan Irvine
Information Sources
Knight, 1999
Hardwicke Knight, Church Building in Otago, [Hardwicke Knight, Dunedin], 1999
McKenzie, 1988
Dorothy McKenzie, Otepopo and Herbert Township, Otago Heritage Books, Dunedin, 1988
Otepopo Presbyterian Church, 1915
Otepopo Presbyterian Church, Jubilee Souvenir 1865-1915, March 1915, Ōamaru, 1915
Ledgerwood (2013)
Norman Ledgerwood, R.A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin, Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand, Dunedin, 2013
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A fully referenced Upgrade Report is available on request from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Museum
Former Usages
General Usage: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Current Usages
Uses: Civic Facilities
Specific Usage: Museum
Former Usages
General Usage: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Stay up to date with Heritage this month
