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| St Francis, from the eastern side of the churchyard |
The church is built of pit sawn timber, with the weatherboards running vertically instead of horizontally, and bears some similarities to St Andrew's Anglican Church in Martinborough and Old St Paul's in Wellington. The church was built with a shingle roof, made of hand-split totara shingles, but this was covered with corrugated roofing iron in 1911.
The church is tucked away, hidden from view, in Waterfalls Road, Bideford. Waterfalls Road dips down to cross a low-lying bridge across the Tauweru River. It makes access to the church somewhat challenging when the weather has been wet, as the roadway is very muddy and prone to flooding.
The movable form seats suggest the church's multiple original role as school room and local hall.
The altar came originally from the Church of the Epiphany in Masterton. The altar cross was made by Ernest Wrigley in the late 1950s.
Appliqued banner of St Francis of Assisi.
The prayer desk and font came from the Church of the Epiphany, in Masterton.
The lectern was found outside the church in the 1930s. It was subsequently shortened, as it had been designed for someone about six feet tall.
The small American reed organ has a lovely bright sound, and is a beautiful instrument to play.
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| Church bell, added some time after the centenary in 1975. Some confusion exists about its origins. |
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| Grave of the Hon. John Falloon CNZM |
History
The Rev. C H Gossett was the first clergyman to live in Bideford. He came from Bideford in Devon and suggested the name Bideford for the district, in preference to Upper Taueru.
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| Bideford Churchroom, circa 1913 |
St Francis was part of Masterton Anglican and its first Vicar, the Rev. J. F Teakle, gave permission for Bideford Church to serve as the local hall and schoolroom.
Presbyterian services were also held for a time at the church. A
schoolroom and residence was subsequently built on the section to the west of
the church.
The remoteness of the church within the geographically widespread parish of Masterton, combined with wet weather making access via Waterfalls Road impassable, means that the timetable for monthly services was frequently subject to change.
Notes from St Matthew's parish magazines of the 1920s give some idea of the on-again, off-again nature of Bideford services.
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| Bideford Schoolroom, which stood adjacent to St Francis - 04-200/7-1 |
The remoteness of the church within the geographically widespread parish of Masterton, combined with wet weather making access via Waterfalls Road impassable, means that the timetable for monthly services was frequently subject to change.
Notes from St Matthew's parish magazines of the 1920s give some idea of the on-again, off-again nature of Bideford services.
December 1922
We have made a start with the services here again and have met with encouragement. Mrs Falloon kindly acts as organist and the singing so far has been most hearty. The next service at Bideford will be on December 24th, at 11 am, when we hope to be able to say our prayers and sing our hymns in some shady place outside. Christmas hymns, please!
March 1923
The services at Bideford are going ahead well, and our thanks are due largely to Mrs Falloon for playing and other small duties, such as letting others know when the hour of a service is altered for unavoidable reasons. At Christmas time we had the Church decorated, a little bit of work and kindly thought which was greatly appreciated.
July 1923
The services here keep up well in spite of the wintry weather of the last few months. If only we could get the Church Room moved into an accessible place when the school is moved!
August 1923
We were sorry that the very bad weather on July 22nd broke the sequence of services at Bideford. It was impossible for both parson and people. We trust that on August 26th, our next Sunday service at Bideford, we shall resume with a good muster of worshippers.
September 1923
We were sorry that, owing to shortage of staff, Bideford had to go without another monthly service. The next service will be held on Sept. 30th, the last not the fourth Sunday in the month.
October 1923
The services at Bideford have commenced again after the break due to bad weather. Mrs Falloon has again been instrumental - in more than one way - in keeping up the service.
January 1924
At Bideford on the Sunday before Christmas we had an unusual Christmas service. The weather being so hot we chose the kindly shade of a big native tree near the river and there sang our Christmas hymns and joined in the worship heartily. Some people imagine that unaccompanied singing is wanting in heartiness. They should have heard us at BIDEFORD and at WESTMERE where we had to sing without an instrument.
July 1926, Bideford
Services have been arranged for the fifth Sunday in the month. Will friends kindly make a note of the new arrangement and intimate the same to any who possibly have not been notified.
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Swingbridge (footbridge) which used to provide access over the
river. It was swept away in a flood in the 1940s. (Pen and wash drawing by Wilma Brown.) |
Subsequently the Bideford community, frustrated by years of difficult access
to the church and school site, moved the schoolroom to Mangapurupuru
Road.
Centenary: 1875-1975
On 11 October 1975 the Bideford church celebrated its centenary. This was marked by a weekend of festivities, which included a pageant on the life of St Francis of Assisi by children of Bideford School, and by the dedication and naming of the church as St Francis by the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt Rev. Edward Norman, who arrived at the service in a horse and gig.
Today
The Church of St Francis of Assisi was formerly part of Masterton Anglican Parish. In recent years, the Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees handed the church ownership over to the community. Occasional services are held there.
The church is available for weddings.
Centenary: 1875-1975
On 11 October 1975 the Bideford church celebrated its centenary. This was marked by a weekend of festivities, which included a pageant on the life of St Francis of Assisi by children of Bideford School, and by the dedication and naming of the church as St Francis by the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt Rev. Edward Norman, who arrived at the service in a horse and gig.
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| Pen and wash drawing of St Francis, by Roy Steer, undated. 04-42/22-65 |
Today
The Church of St Francis of Assisi was formerly part of Masterton Anglican Parish. In recent years, the Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees handed the church ownership over to the community. Occasional services are held there.
The church is available for weddings.
In 2025 the church celebrates its sesquicentennial - 150 years old.
Sources
Bideford Church Centenary publication, 1875-1975
Wairarapa Archive
Contact
Sources
Bideford Church Centenary publication, 1875-1975
Wairarapa Archive
looks a lovely old church, soon to visit it then give feed back!
ReplyDeleteLoved the church inside and out.. so much history thank you for sharing it with us.. I shall return and spend more time with the little churchyard.
ReplyDeleteAdele Pentony-Graham
Clareville Taphophile.
Thank you for your comments. It is a wonderful little building, steeped in history.
Delete