The Church of St Anne's, Pleasant Valley, near Geraldine, N.Z.
Built in 1863, St Anne's is the oldest church in use in South Canterbury. The timber used in the building being matai, kahikatea and totora was felled from the bush behind the church. Originally the roof was of totora shingles. The inside timber rafters and pews still bear the marks of the pitsaw and adze whilst the interior walls are the original clay and tussock pug. The baptismal font and lectern are of excellent workmanship. The work all voluntary by the early settlers including John Huffey. Rev. R. [Bob] Lowe. Posted on the outer door of the church in the 1970s.
The church stands as a fitting tribute to the toil of this
country's forefathers,
and the quaint churchyard allows their stories to be kept alive, even though the
characters have gone.
The photo above shows the back of the church and the cemetery is located directly behind the church. "Parson Brown" Laurence Lawson Brown conducted services in the community for a decade from 1865. The outside walls are protected by the weatherboards. The church is situated on Pleasant Valley Road, not very far out of Geraldine, towards Fairlie. Nearby is Talbot Forest, Geraldine and matai, kahikatea and totara and native song birds can be seen there. headstones photo inside
It was the second church in South Canterbury to be built but is the oldest in use on its original site. The first church, St Mary's, Timaru, was built in wood but later replaced by the impressive stone building we see today. This church commemorates the name of Anne, wife of Rev. L.L. Brown. She is buried in the churchyard cemetery. By the 1880s the timber had been cut out in Pleasant Valley so the area's population decreased and became a farming community. The church in The Anglican Parish of Geraldine was renovated in 1934
with financial assistance from Mrs. Burdon. The outside cob walls are now protected by the weatherboards but those inside remain exposed. The community has continue to support church's preservation and it is now registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and has a category 2 rating. The building has been as used by various denominations for their services.
Timaru Herald, 19 November 1875, Page 3
WILSON � HARDCASTLE. -On the 3rd instant, at St. Anne's Church, Pleasant Valley, by the Rev. James Preston, James Park, eldest son of Alexander Wilson, Esq., of Temuka, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Thomas Hardcastle, Esq.. of Castlewood, Pleasant Valley, Canterbury.Timaru Herald 26th FEBRUARY, 1880 Marriage
BROWN - BENNETT. On the 9th February, 1880, at St. Anne's Church, Pleasant Valley, by the Rev. L.L. Brown, B.A., Henry Faber Brown, to Catherine Annie Bennett.
Timaru Herald March 1897 WEDDING:
TEMPLE - TINCLER. Mr. G. L. Temple, son of Captain and Mrs Temple, Pleasant Valley, and Miss Iola [sic] B. Tincler, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Tincler, solicitor, Dublin. At St. Mary's Church, Geraldine. [See details published 02/02/1897, page 2.]
Timaru Herald, 2 March 1897, Page 2
Mr A. L. Temple, of the firm of Smith and Temple, eldest son of Captain and Mrs Temple, Pleasant Valley, was married on Thursday to Miss Ida B. Tincler, eldest daughter of the late Mr Tincler, solicitor, of Dublin. The wedding took place at St. Mary's Church, Geraldine, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. J. Preston. There was a large attendance of the public, and the Church was well decorated for the occasion. The bride, who was given away by Mr R. T. W. Sercombe, of Rakonui, was attired in a very becoming dress of cream brocaded alpaca trimmed with cream satin and chiffon. She wore a wreath of orange blossom and veil, and carried a shower bouquet. The bridesmaid was Miss S. Larie (daughter of Mrs Sercombe), and Mr E. G. Temple acted as best man. In the afternoon Mr and Mrs Sercombe gave an "At Home," to which a large circle of friends was invited. The bride and bridegroom were the recipients of a great many presents, and left at 4.30 p.m. for Winchester.
Timaru Herald March 1900 Marriage
LEWIS - GREENALL. At St Anne's Church, Pleasant Valley, by the Rev. Staples Hamilton, David Elliot, second son of Mr Joseph Lewis, Winchester, to Ellen, eldest daughter of the later Mr John Greenall, Pleasant Valley.
Veronica Whall's first stained glass window in New Zealand "Two Angels in a Vine" which was donated by Mildred Burdon a friend of Veronica Whall's aunt, Ethel H. Moffat, who the window commemorates is found here. Ethel was a sister of Christopher Whall a prominent stained glass artist in England.
Inside the church is a plaque: "In memory of Rupert Theordore Walton SERCOMBE died March 1944, also of Sophie Maria Eleanor his wife, died February 1940. They gave faithful and willing service to this church for many years. Erected by their old friends".
Barker, N.G. d. Jul 3 1969 age 75 7/1044 1st NZEF PTE Canterbury MTD Rifles Barker, Dorothy M. d. Feb 22 1975 age 80
Brown, Andrew d. Dec 18 1923 age 73 Brown, Elizabeth d. Sep 18 1930 age 67 Smith, John Wilson b. May 18 1836 d. Nov 20 1896 late of Bradford, Yorkshire Brown, Rachel d. Nov 03 1903 age 14 child of Andrew and Elizabeth Brown Brown, James d. Feb 14 1905 age 19 child of Andrew and Elizabeth Brown Brown, William Andrew d. Jul 17 1919 age 16 child of Andrew and Elizabeth Brown Brown, Laurence Lawson b. Feb 15 1889 d. Oct 11 1889
Brown, Eleanor Faber b. Jun 04 1848 d. May 24 1881
Brown, Anne Grey b. May 23 1828 d. Nov 22 1893 Brown, George Faber b. Jun 18 1855 d. Aug 18 1894
Brown, Henry Faber b. May 18 1851 d. Apr 8 1933
Brown, Catherine Anne b. Dec 3 1863 d. Jun 29 1950
Bull, Mary d. Jun 22 1887 age 51 wife of Thomas Bull
Bull, Thomas d. May 1 1904 in his 78th year
Bull, John d. Jun 12 1908 age 71
Burdon, Cotsford Mathew b. Mar 27 1860 d. Jun 3 1920
Burdon, Mildred b. Jan 27 1869 d. Aug 26 1938
Ebbett, E.P.B. d. Oct 15 1953 age 39 FT/Lieut (AFC) RNZAF 70098
Hardcastle, Thomas d. Jan 8 1897 age 80 also his wife Hardcastle, Caroline d. Nov 27 1913 age 90 years Settlers in the Valley 1863-1882
Hardcastle, Catherine d. Jan 1 1882 age 15 youngest child of Thomas and Caroline Hardcastle also Hardcastle, Jane d. Sep 6 1882 age 20 their third child Howden, Thomas b. May 22 1865 d. 21 Apr 1883 s/o Edward & Elizabeth Howden
Keen, William b. 1864 d. 1937 Keen, Elizabeth b. 1863 d. 1946 Keen, Elizabeth Jane aged 83 years Keen, William aged 73 years
Temple, Ida Emilie b. 1873 d. 1953 wife of A.L. Temple and also her beloved husband Temple, Arthur Leofric b. 1869 d. 1956
Reesby Temple, Mary b. 1922 d. 1997 (Molly)loved wife of Malcolm
Smith, John Wilson b. May 18 1836 d. Nov 20 1896 late of Bradford, Yorkshire possibly / probably illegible gravestone
Temple, L.C.M. b. 1872 d. 1951 Temple, A.B. b. 1871 d. 1952
Templer, E.D. d. Feb 28 1982 7/434 1st NZEF SGT Canterbury MTD Rifles
Templer, Rose Agnes b. 1895 d. 1952
Sercombe, Sophie M.E. b. 1855 d. 1940 Sercombe, R.T. Walton b. 1861 d. 1944
Shaw, Keith Maxwell b. 5 Nov 1920 - 17 Sept. 2008 on wall
Webb, William d. Dec 5 1916 age 78 years and his beloved wife Webb, Edith d. Jan 26 1962 age 86 years Harries, Edwin L. ?89
Wilson Beatrice Lillian d. Apr 27 1887 age 5 only and beloved child of James and Elizabeth Wilson
Withers, Percy Gideon d. Apr 4 1951 1865-1951
Withers, Ellen (Nellie) d. Jul 8 1936 1870-1936
Woods, Thomas Sydney age 75 Woods, Lilian Joyce (Joy) b. 16 Jan 1922 d. 26 Apr 1981 Woods, Fairlie Sydney (Syd) b. 21 Jan 1914- 28 Sept. 2002 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
Transcribed by Olwyn at the cemetery late in the afternoon, August 1999, and it was cold.
Expect the door to be locked in this day and age.
Photos below and on next page taken April 2010 by
M.T on a lovely autumn day and transcription update.
Gravestones since 1999 - edited by Margaret Todd 1st May 2010 44 Woods, Fairlie Sydney (Syd) b.31 January 1914 d. 29 September 2002 I Lift Up My Eyes To The Hills 45 Allen, Jocelyn Ruth (nee Temple) wife of Ted 1-2-1927 � 1-3-2000 46 Gualter, H Seymour 18381 2nd NZEF Pte NZ Infantry d.5.11.1989 aged 88 yrs. Gualter, Mary C d. 21.4.2000 aged 92yrs 47 Shaw, Keith Maxwell 5 Nov 1920 � 17 Sept 2008 dearly loved husband of Margaret, beloved father of Catherine, Grandfather of Harry McDonough 48 Tanner, Dorothy Amy b. 1923 d. 1998 49 Tanner, Raymond Jack b. 1916 d. 2003 Married in this church 1972 50 McDonough, Catherine Margaret b. 1959 d. 1995 Precious daughter of Keith and Margaret Shaw, loved wife of Albert & devoted mother of Harry. Tragically taken aged 36 51 Temple, E Peter S b.22nd October 1921 d.2nd November 1997 52 Barrett, Graeme John beloved eldest child of Allynne Phillips Woods b. 9-9-57 - d. 2.2.65 Suffer the little children to come unto me. 54 Temple, John David Hinson b.17-1-1925 d. 25-11-1995 Elder son of John and Natalie Temple (Timaru) and husband of Rachel (Dunedin) 55 Temple, Roger Grenville b.19-2-1924 d. 8-1-1991 second son of Edwyn G & Aileen M Temple(Gapes Valley) and husband of Marie (Geraldine) 56 Barker, Norman Temple b.1927 d.2004 57 Hamilton, L C b. 1900 d.1971 58 Hamilton, S C b. 1897 (Ashburton) d.1979 59 Barker, George Temple b. 22-07-1924 d. 01-03-2005 Husband of Marie and Molly
FT/Lieut. E.P.B. Ebbett A.F.C.
H. Seymour Gualter 18381 2nd NZEF N.Z. Infantry
In loving memory of Jocelyn Ruth Allen 9nee Temple) Dearly loved wife of Ted 1-2-1927______ 1-3-2000
E.D. Templer d. 28 Feb. 1982
Thomas Hardcastle 1863-1882 - settlers in the valley.
Otago Witness, 14 January 1897, Page 25
Obituary- - Mr Thomas Hardcastle, an old identity in South Canterbury, died on
Friday afternoon last at the advanced age of 80. Deceased was one of the
earliest agricultural settlers in South Canterbury, having arrived in the ship
Maori in 1858. The deceased was particularly well known in the Geraldine
district, where he lived for many years, and his remains were interred in the
little churchyard at Pleasant Valley, Geraldine, on Sunday afternoon.
Star 9 January 1897, Page 6 THOMAS HARDCASTLE.
Timaru Herald, 9 January 1897, Page 2
A very old settler, in the person of Mr Thomas Hardcastle, passed away
at Timaru yesterday, at the age of eighty years. Mr Hardcastle arrived
in Lyttelton in the ship Maori, Captain Petherbridge, on July
14, 1858, and resided for a few months at Kaiapoi. Shortly after his
arrival in New Zealand he was appointed manager of the property now
known as the Longbeach Estate, which was then owned by the late Mr J. E.
Fitzgerald, and Messrs C. P. Cox, Hunter Brown, and G. Draper. After
holding this position for about four years he took up land at Pleasant
Valley, near Geraldine (he purchased the land from Mr Alfred Cox), and so improved it that his pretty homestead of
Castlewood was known far and wide. For some years he devoted his
attention to stock raising, and carried on a large dairy farm. In 1882
he sold the property, and since that time has led a more or less retired
life in Timaru. Having been an enthusiastic follower of hunting in
England, he was generally to be found at meets in South Canterbury. He
took an active part in local government matters, and was for several
years a member of the Geraldine County Council and the Geraldine Road
Board. He was also a member and for some time Chairman of the Pleasant
Valley School Committee. For many years he was a lay reader at St Anne's
Church, Geraldine. He was much liked and respected for his upright
character and for his kindly and courteous nature, as well as for his
hospitality. He leaves a widow, [Caroline nee Hebb b. 30 Sept. 1824 in
Leven, East Yorkshire, ENG] and grown-up family, consisting of three
daughters and six sons. A
Kiwi Family Story On 17 October 1881 1038 acres of freehold land at
Pleasant Valley, was sold at public auction, was subdivided into eight
farms, this was land owned by Thos. Hardcastle, Esq. of Castlewood. see
Timaru Herald, 13 October 1881, Page 3.
Timaru Herald, 12 January 1897, Page 2
The mortal remains of the late Mr Thomas Hardcaatle were interred on
Sunday afternoon in St. Ann's Churchyard, Pleasant Valley, the Rev J.
Preston, an old friend of the deceased, performing the burial service.
As no timely public announcement could be made, there was not a large
attendance, but some of the old friends of the family were present from
the Valley, Geraldine and Woodbury, and a few from Timaru.
Eleven of their thirteen children were born in Pleasant Valley, Geraldine. The oldest two died before the parents arrived in New Zealand and Thomas is now buried with two of his daughters who died, aged 15 and 20, in 1882 and a grandchild. The little church in Pleasant Valley was erected mainly by his exertions, and while at Castlewood he assisted as lay-reader to maintain regular services.
Thomas Hardcastle, 40, Nottingshire, labourer & mechanic, paid
£55 pounds for the family to come out to
Canterbury arriving in Lyttelton 14 July 1858.
Ages from passenger list. Caroline, wife- 33
1. John, age 10, b: Sep. 1846 in Beverley, East Yorkshire, ENG.
2. Thomas, age 9, b: abt. 1848 in Newark, Lincolnshire, ENG.
3. Elizabeth, age 7, b: abt. 1850 in Newark, Lincolnshire, ENG.
4. Cresser, age 5, b: abt. 1852 in Newark, Lincolnshire, ENG.
5. Caroline, age 4, b: abt. 1853 in Newark, Lincolnshire, ENG.
6. Edward, age 2, b: ABT 1855 in Newark, Lincolnshire, ENG.
7. Charles, age 1, b: MAR 1857 in Newark, Lincolnshire, ENG.
8. Jane b: abt. 1862 in NZ
9. Catherine b: abt. 1867 in NZ
Evening Post, 11 June 1925, Page 13
The wedding of Miss Dorothy Hardcastle, M.A., of the staff of the Timaru
Girls' High School, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hardcastle, of
Timaru, to Mr. Thomas Wooding, son of Mr and Mrs. J. Wooding, of
Woodbury, South Canterbury, took place at St. Mary's Church, Timaru,
recently. The bride's dainty gown was of soft white satin, very, simply
cut, and with the slight drapings held to the left side with handsome
pearl ornaments. There were hanging sleeves of georgette, and a spray of
orange blossoms was on the left shoulder. The long tulle veil was held
in place by a bandeau of satin ribbon tied in a butterfly bow at the
back of the head, with two trails of orange blossom meeting at the
front. The shower bouquet was of white chrysanthemums, pink roses, and
pink carnations, tied with silver ribbon, and the bride wore a long
pearl necklet, the gift of the bridegroom. The veil was lent by a
friend, and worn over the face. The bridesmaid was Miss Frances Wooding,
in a becoming frock of mauve moire marocain, and a hat of mauve and
silver, the bouquet carried being of lemon chrysanthemums and mauve and
lemon daisies, with streamers of gold ribbon. Two little maids, who were
flower girls, Winsome and Naumai Squire, were in charming frocks of
embroidered white organdi, and had bandeaux and butterfly bows of mauve
tulle tied at the side of the head, their posies being of white and
lemon chrysanthemums tied with mauve ribbons. They also wore pearl
necklets, the presents of the bridegroom. The wedding reception was held
at the Goode Intente Rooms, when a large number of relatives and friends
attended the wedding breakfast. Later the bride and bridegroom left for
the North, the bride wearing a brown and fawn tweed costume, smart brown
hat, fur-trimmed coat, and with a lovely bouquet of violets tied with
purple ribbons, presented by the girls of Form IV. of the High School. A
pretty attention offered to the bride at the church by the girls of the
school was the presentation to her of a silver horseshoe tied with white
satin ribbons. Mr. and Mrs. T. Wooding are taking a motor tour in
Marlborough before returning South.
Edward
William and Edith Webb
Percy Gideon Withers 1865 - 1951
Thomas Sydney Woods
There are no dates on Thomas Sydney Woods' headstone.
Thomas Sydney Woods b.
1878 Balclutha d. 24.04.1953 74yrs.
Fairlie Sydney Woods & Lilian Joyce Woods
William
HOWES b. 1850, UK, d. 1925 Nelson, NZ and his wife Caroline (nee TURNER).William
and Caroline left Gravesend in London on 10 February 1874 on the sailing ship
Atrato, arriving in Lyttelton in New Zealand on 8 June 1874. Before
William and Caroline left England, they had already arranged to work in Pleasant
Valley, near Geraldine, and their new employer met them at Timaru.
Eleven of the thirteen children were born in Pleasant Valley, Geraldine. The oldest two died before the parents arrived in New
Zealand and the second child Peter, was not officially named as he died at the age of 5 days.
Three died young
and are buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, the graves are unmarked. Posted
22 Jan. 2002.
John b. 1876 d. 1883
Peter b. 1883 d. 1883
Stanley b 1890, d 1890.
Reference:
Online. At the
conclusion of a formation flypast to commemorate the end of the
London-Christchurch Air Race on Thursday 15 October 1953 there was a mid air
collision over Wigram. The RNZAF De Havilland DH.104 Devon crashed into a
paddock about 200 yards from NZ1811 and was destroyed. Flight Lieutenant Edwin
Ebbett, AC1 Brian Keogh and AC1 Eric Melrose killed and the aircraft was
destroyed.
Searching for the wine in old St Anne's by Peter McLauchlan
St. Anne's Church (Pleasant Valley) oldest church in South Canterbury
still in regular use.
Series: Canterbury sketchbook The Press, 1995 Jan. 28, Weekend, p. 16
From: Christchurch City Libraries
"history has been left undisturbed as that wee country church is now one
hundred and forty seven years old."