Country Church

Another little country church - St Matthew's Anglican Church was built in 1874 as part of the large Kaiapoi Parish - all that country north of the Waimakariri River.

St Matthew's was designed by Benjamin Mountfort, and built on land gifted by F M Rickman. The Browns of Mount Thomas were the chief benefactors. Early in 1874 Bishop Harper laid the foundation stone and six months later in July, when the church was completed, he returned on a cold blustery day and consecrated the new church.

The bell dates from 1890 and the present belfry was erected in 1924 to mark the church's fiftieth anniversary.

Today it is used on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and serves the small community of Fernside.

Grocery day with Mum on this bitter grey Thursday. It was too cold to linger outside, so a quick one of the church it is. Now as I type the sun is shining and there'll probably be a good sunset - but I'll leave that for today. Daughter A flies in tomorrow - hope the ash cloud stays away. Feeling quite tired today - a bit lethargic.

I'll be back later for comments - hope the week is going well for everyone :)

PS Thanks for all your comments on yesterdays seedhead, it was very amusing reading them, we had so many different interpretations they were:
candy floss, cotton ball, soapy bubbles, sheeps wool and a wig!!! Rainie came up with the wig idea - a $2 one to, good on you Rainie :))) Thanks guys, awesome lot of comments!!! :))