Overlooking the Hokianga Harbour is this gem with a very high steeple. Motukaraka Church or as it's otherwise known the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption is Catholic based and was designed by Thomas Mahoney but opened in 1910 by Dean Lightfoot one of the Mill Hill Missionaries.
There is a war memorial next to the church dedicated to those who fought in the 2nd world war - names include Private Massey Rameka, Private David Hoani and Private Chris Harris.
The missionaries identified with their mostly Maori congregation and learned their native language. Father John Baptist Becker, also one of the missionaries is buried next to the church and was responsible for translating the bible for his parishioners.
The interior resembles that of a gothic design and has been incredibly well looked after. However upon looking at the mat leading down the centre of the aisle we could see there was some water damage so maybe there was a leak in the roof at some point but it was still immaculate nonetheless.
11 comments:
We missed the turnoff to it on an earlier trip to Mitimiti and then on the way back went down the wrong road and drove for miles before realising our mistake. I presume it is a metal road.
Partly. If you drive along the coast road before kohukohu in the opposite direction it's just off the main road
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The church is beautiful, colourful and so clean. The sky makes a lovely background.
Nice-looking church! :)
That is a real beauty and in such a pretty setting.
That is a beauty!
What a beautiful church both inside and outside. It looks fabulous under that cloudy sky.
That is a church I do recall in some detail (and blogged about it too I'm certain). There was something going on when we were there (not a service) but I can't for the life of me remember what. It is certainly very visible from miles around.
It reminds.me.a bit of the churches I saw on East Cape. Simple with a definite Maori theme influence.
That is a pretty church and even more so inside.
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