St Francis Lutheran Church, Mauriceville West

St Francis Lutheran Church stood until 2019 on a rise above Mauriceville West Road. The church has since been removed but the cemetery remains.

The picture that hangs above the altar is a print of a painting by Carl Bloch of Christ with his hand on the head of a small boy.

The simple, clean lines of the church interior.

Labour and equipment for the repainting of the church was donated by congregational members, their families and a member of the local Wairarapa Scandinavian Club.  Financial assistance toward materials was also received from the Scandinavian Club and the local Mauriceville Kopuaranga Fair Committee.

History

During the1870s large numbers of Scandinavians from Denmark, Norway and Sweden emigrated to the northern Wairarapa as part of a Government scheme to clear the forty-mile bush. Many of the Danish families settled at Mauriceville West. Despite considerable hardship and poverty they began building the original church at Mauriceville West in 1882 and it was dedicated by Danish-born Pastor Jørgen Johansen Sass on 24 August 1884.

 An early photo of the church, taken in the 1890s. 2011N_Mv36b_005730

The interior of the original church, taken in the 1950s (Bennett Iorns)
02-94/29

The exterior of the original church, taken from the graveyard. (Bennett Iorns, 1950s) 02-94/28

The original church was of a typical Danish country church design, reminiscent of the large stepped towers of Danish country churches, designed to provide a place of refuge for the community in case of hostile invasion.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand, 1897, noted

Mauriceville Lutheran Church is a handsome wooden building standing on an eminence in Mauriceville West. Accommodation is provided for about 200 worshippers. Services are held weekly. The Rev. Mads Christensen is the minister in charge.

Unfortunately the original church deteriorated and was demolished and the present church built in 1957, using voluntary labour and donated materials. The altar rails, the picture of Christ from above the altar and sacred vessels from the old church were incorporated in the new church.

Deconsecration

Sadly, with a reduction in congregation numbers, the church was deconsecrated following a service on 24 March 2019, with a view to relocating the building for other purposes. The Wairarapa Times-Age gives a full report here.

Worship

St Francis congregation now worships in St Andrews Union Church, 63 Main St, Greytown, in cooperation with the St Andrew's congregation.

A Lutheran service is held on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 3.00pm. Regular services are no longer held in the Mauriceville West church. To confirm arrangements phone 06 3049088.

Contact

Pastor
Jim Pietsch
Phone: (04) 385 7087
Email: jim.pietsch@lutheran.org.nz

St Francis Lutheran Church graveyard remains in Mauriceville West Road, Mauriceville, 20 km north of Masterton (map).



Sources:
Steen Olsen, Danish Lutherans in New Zealand, 1866-1958
Wairarapa Archives
Palmerston North Libraries and Community Services
Cyclopedia of New Zealand, 1897
George Conrad Peterson, Forest Homes: Scandinavian settlements in New Zealand
St Francis Lutheran Church, Mauriceville West
Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 2019 - End of era for historic church


The Scandinavian Trail Newsletter contains further useful information.