St. Stephen's Church, Anglican Church, Fairlie, South Canterbury, New Zealand
St Stephen's Anglican up Kirke St, Fairlie opposite the school/community library was consecrated 9 Jan. 1896 by Bishop Churchill Julius with Archdeacon Henry W. Harper present is a small historic wooden church, with a roughcast concrete over the exterior and a fabulous interior with beautiful stained windows. The architect was James Turnbull. Vicar at the time was Stanley Hinson and the secretary was D.H. Gillingham. This church named partly in honour of Stephen Gillingham who served this church for many years. Services where held by Rev. Preston from Geraldine at three weekly intervals at Gillingham's Lambrook property, south of Fairlie, until the church was built. It is said that every parishioner drove a nail into this church while it was being built.
The Timaru Herald Wednesday 17 July 1895
The foundation stone was laid on Monday 15th July during the severe winter of 1895.Four Stained Glass Windows
1.The east window of the church, 'The Navity' work of John Lisle the designer and made by C.E. Kempe & Co. Ltd, London, was donated in Dec. 1898 (by widow Harriet L. Seddon) in memory of Mr Thomas R. Seddon (d. 28 Sept. 1896. age 43) of Ashwick Station who donated the land for the church and vicarage.
2. Another window 'The Good Shepherd' is in memory of Trooper C.P. Dorman who died on Gallipoli 18 Dec, 1915 given in 1917 by his parents May and Arthur Dorman.
3. 'Christ and Children' designed by Frederick Marsh, Christchurch and made by Smith and Smith in 1919 commemorates Sgt. Rowland F. Piper who was killed in action at Flanders 8 Dec. 1917. Donors were his parents.
4. 'Christ and Children of Many Nations' commemorating Charles Talbot 1873-1942
The annual spring St. Stephens Flower Show began in 1910 has been going on for more than one hundred years. Any child who went to Fairlie schools will remember these event with school art work displayed and animals made out of toothpicks and vegetables. The Parish Hall was demolished in 1991 and the land sold to the Department of Education.THE CHURCH OF ST STEPHENS at Fairlie is built of wood and iron, and was erected in 1896 (free of debt). It is a good and well appointed church and has accommodation for about 100 adults. The site consists of half an acre and is centrally located in the township. Services are held morning and evening every Sunday. There is a Sunday School attended by twenty-one children in charge of three teachers. The vicar-in-charge resides at Pleasant Point. Reference: Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Canterbury edition. 1903
Today church services are jointly Anglican & Presbyterian.
1st Sunday 8 am St Stephens
2nd & 4th Sunday St Stephens
1st, 3rd & 5th 9: 30 am St Columba
Vicar: The Rev. Michael Kerr
11 Kirke St. ph 685-8369Photos:
Radcliffe Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ.
Auckland Cities Library image by James D Richardson showing the exterior view of St Stephens Church, Fairlie.
In the book 'Fairlie 1866-2000' by The Fairlie Work Trust Inc. page 61 there are photos of the three churches in Fairlie including a photo of St Stephen's taken from the opposite direction circa 1900 with a white picket gateway. Frederick George Radcliffe 1863-1923. Farmer, photographer.Reference: Goodwin, George St Stephen's Anglican Church, Fairlie. One hundred years 1896-1996 30 pg. Hilton Press.
Otago Witness, 30 July 1902, Page 43
Star, 25 July 1902, Page 3
MORRIS— CROSS.— On the 21st July, at St. Stephen's Church, Fairlie by the Rev.
Stanley Hanson, Arthur William, third son of Mr A. W. Morris, Dunedin to Agnes
Durroch, second daughter of Mr Frederick Cross, Fairlie.