History in the breaking: Fall of a country church
A few years ago the West Coast’s Bruce Bay community fought hard to keep its church, but the tiny building was not able to withstand the force of ex-tropical cyclone Fehi.
The 87-year-old St Peter’s Anglican Church at Jacobs River, south of Fox Glacier, was blown metres from its foundation and now sits crushed and broken in a paddock.
‘‘It’s totalled. It’s a devastating blow for our community because it has been part of all of our lives,’’ Bruce Bay community hall committee chairwoman Brenda Monk said.
The corrugated iron and wood building, owned by the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch has not been used for regular church services for a few years, but was still used for christenings and Christmas carol services, and was treasured by the community.
‘‘My grandchildren got christened there and my nieces and nephews.’’
Monk said the diocese suggested moving the church to Christchurch following the earthquakes, but the community said it would take responsibility for its maintenance, if the diocese left it there.
‘‘We had actually taken on board the church to save it, so to speak. As a community we didn’t want to see the church fall down.’’
The community put a new roof on it and had completed general maintenance on it.
The church was an ‘‘icon’’ in the area and tourists often stopped to take photographs of it because of the dramatic backdrop and its position ‘‘in the middle of nowhere’’ on the Haast Highway.
‘‘Of course it was beautiful. It was an iconic little building. We all loved it.’’
Monk did not think there would be any chance it would be rebuilt, because it was not regularly used. However, the community would consult with the diocese to see what they wanted to do.
‘‘There’s nothing that can be done now except salvage anything that’s of any value. I’ve actually removed the sign from it and put it in the Bruce Bay Hall, which is where it belongs now.’’
In the past, the church had also been used for Catholic church services and was also named Our Lady of the River.
Monk said any events that would have been held there would now probably be held at the Bruce Bay community hall. ‘‘It’s sad to see it down but it’s down.’’ The Anglican Diocese of Christchurch could not be reached for comment.
‘‘It’s a devastating blow for our community because it has been part of all of our lives.’’
Bruce Bay community hall committee chairwoman Brenda Monk