Lake Tekapo’s Crowning Glory
The future is looking bright for the Church of the Good Shepherd
The Tekapo’s Church iconic of the landmark, Good Shepherd, has been Lake captivating visitors since 1935 with its stunning surrounds and majestic charm. Jennifer Murray dedicated many years’ service to the church, and a trust formed in her honour ensures that the church can be well looked after, now and into the future.
IN THE MACKENZIE COUNTRY BESIDE LAKE TEKAPO is a humble yet iconic stone church. Its magnificent setting beside the turquoise-blue glacial lake with the imposing backdrop of the Southern Alps makes it one of the most photographed buildings in the country. The Church of the Good Shepherd is a major Tekapo tourist attraction and pre-Covid upwards of 4,000 people visited it a day. The little church, the first in the Mackenzie Basin, was built to provide the local community, of any denomination, a place to worship while also commemorating the early European runholders that carved a life for themselves in the isolated and often inhospitable district. The church has served the community since 1935 and is now listed as a Category 1 Historic Place building.
There is much to love about this simple church designed by Christchurch-based architect R S D Harman who took inspiration for his design from drawings by artist Esther Hope, of Grampians Station. For a start there is the exterior with its locally sourced, individually chosen boulders, and the Arts and Crafts inspired interior, notable for the carvings by New Zealand carver Frederick Gurnsey. But undoubtedly the most inspired element of the design is the large plate window above the altar framing the majestic panoramic view of the lake and mountains. The builders, Les Loomes and Doug Rodman, were tasked with leaving the church’s surrounds undisturbed, allowing tussock, matagouri, and the scattered rock to add a sense of harmony to its environment, and offer a feeling of permanence and timelessness.
It is not difficult to see why this little church holds a special place in the hearts of so many people. One parishioner with a special affinity to the church was Jennifer Murray, affectionately known as Erf. Much of Jennifer’s life was spent in the Mackenzie, growing up at nearby Glenmore Station on the western bank of Lake Tekapo. Her grandfather, George Murray of Braemar Station donated the land for the church. Her father and uncle, along with others in the community, helped provide finances for the church to be built. Jennifer dedicated decades of service to the Church of the Good Shepherd, almost right up until her death in 2014 aged 80. And it is why, after her death, her brother Jim Murray felt it was appropriate to form a trust in her honour.
Jim remembers his sister being an ‘old-fashioned, highly respected teacher’ in South Canterbury and one who became the unofficial sole champion of the little church for some 20 years prior to the forming of a small committee in 1986 to look after the church. After the committee was formed Jennifer remained a central figure, organising guides to advise tourists and ensuring the church was well maintained, particularly as the strain of increased tourist activity placed pressure on the fragile location.
Keen to acknowledge and continue Jennifer’s work, Jim, who also has a strong link with the church having served
Keen to acknowledge and continue Jennifer’s work, Jim spearheaded the forming of The Jennifer Murray Charitable Trust.
on its vestry for 25 years, spearheaded the forming of The Jennifer Murray Charitable Trust. The trust, formed in 2017, specifically aims ‘to enhance, protect, promote, retain and upkeep the Church of the Good Shepherd; promote and enhance the physical and spiritual welfare of the church building itself and of its parishioners; and to educate, spiritually guide and support the citizens of the Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Mt Cook catchment area through the use of the Church as a meeting place for spiritual, religious and family purposes’.
The trustees hope to build up a strong financial base to ‘ensure that the church can be well looked after into perpetuity long beyond the lifespans of those who have been part of its life of service so far’. The money raised by the trust is targeted solely for the benefit of the Church of the Good Shepherd and for the people residing within the boundaries of the Mackenzie Basin.
Anyone wishing to donate to The Jennifer Murray Charitable Trust can do so. Please contact Jim Murray at glenmorestation@xtra.co.nz for further information.