Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, 7999, Canterbury Region, New Zealand
Situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains, the Church of the Good Shepherd was built to the glory of God and as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country.
Designed to give the impression of quiet strength and simplicity the building embodies the essential qualities of the early settlers who endured the tough Mackenzie Country environment. Our modest stone church was built firstly to the glory of God and secondly, as a memorial to the pioneers of the district.
Opened in 1935 the Church of the Good Shepherd is the sole church in Lake Tekapo and continues to be a place of worship for local residents. It was designed by Christchurch architect R.S.D. Harman, based on sketches by a local artist, Esther Hope.
The builders of the Church were instructed that the site was to be left undisturbed, and that even the matagouri bushes surrounding the building were to remain. Rocks which happened to be on the wall line were not to be removed. The stones for the wall were to be procured from within a radius of five miles of the site, and were to be unchipped and in their natural condition.
The original roof was of wooden shingles, but had to be replaced with the present slates in 1957. The cupboard in the Vestry is made of wood from the Tekapo Bridge, which was demolished in 1954.
Epic New Zealand Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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