The Church of St Anne's, Pleasant Valley
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. Love. Posted on the outer door of the church.
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. photo sketch 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 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.
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".
Baker, N.G. d. Jul 3 1969 age 75 7/1044 1st NZEF PT Baker, Dorothy M. d. Feb 22 1975 age 80
Brown, Andrew d. Dec 18 1923 age 23 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, William Andrew d. Jul 17 19__ age 16 child of Andrew and Elizabeth Brown Brown, Laurence Dawson 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
Howden, Thomas b. May 22 1865 d. 21 Apr 1883 son of Edward and Elizabeth Howden
Bull, John d. Jun 12 1908 age 71
Burdon, Cotsford Mathew b. Mar 27 1860 d. Jun 3 1920
Burdon, Mildrew b. Jan 27 1869 d. Aug 26 1938
Hardcastle, Thomas d. Jan 8 1887 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, Jan d. Sep 6 1882 age 20 their third child
Keen, William b. 1864 d. 1937 Keen, Elizabeth b. 1865 d. 1946
Temple, Iola Emilie b. 1873 d. 1953 wife of A.L. Temple and also her beloved husband Temple, Arthur Leofrio_ b. 1869 d. 1956
Reesby Temple, Mary b. 1922 d. 1997 (Molly)loved wife of Malcom
Temple, L.C.M. b. 1872 d. 1951 Temple, A.B. b. 1871 d. 1952
Templer, Ed d. Feb 28 1982 7/434 1st NZEF SGT
Templer, Agnes b. 1895 d. 1952
Sercombe, Sophie M.E. b. 1855 d. 1940 Sercombe, R.T. Walton b. 1861 d. 1944
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
Ebbett, Epb d. Oct 15 1953 age 39 FT/Lieut (AFG) RNZAF
Woods Lilian Joyce (Joy)b. 16 Jan 1922 d. 26 Apr 1981
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.
The Anglican Parish of Geraldine
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.
William HOWES b. 1850, UK, d. 1925 Nelson, NZ and his wife Caroline (nee TURNER).
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.
"history has been left undisturbed as that wee country church is now one
hundred and forty six years old."