Recently on a drive home from Paihia we took a different route than we normally take and stopped to explore this church in
Pakaraka.
The Pakaraka Holy Trinity Church was built around 1850-51 by missionary
Henry Williams and was opened in 1873.
The first and third sons of Henry and his wife Marianne farmed here in this area for many years. I don't know about you but those stained glass windows are awesome are they not?
Henry was the leader of the Church Missionary Society mission in NZ in the first half of the 19th century. He entered the royal navy at 14 years old and came here in 1823. The Bay of Islands Maori people gave him the name Karu-wha (meaning four eyes) as he wore spectacles but he was known more widely as Te Wiremu (Wiremu being the maori form of William).
The church and entrance (as above) are gothic in style, there is a slim steeple and the original tower apparently blew down in 1946 but was replaced in 2001. Henry's best tribute was in 1867 on the day he died 2 local tribes had planned a battle to settle a land dispute.
The old man's well respected mana (meaning power) that when the warriors heard the news both sides put their weapons down and joined the mourners.
Linking up with
Wednesday around the world and
Our World Tuesday.
