Christ Church Taita Open Day & Annual Service

Experience an Open Day and Annual Service at the historic Christ Church in Taita, Lower Hutt.

Opened in 1854, Christ Church Taita is New Zealand’s second oldest and Wellington’s oldest church. The names of many early settlers in the Hutt Valley can be seen on the headstones in the historic graveyard, including that of Manihera Matangi, a Te Atiawa Chief who was a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi.

This church is an example of an adaptation of an English parish church design to local materials and technology. That the church was built without nails is evidence of considerable skill on the part of Sidney Hirst, and overall its design is simple with little ornament, but a high standard of workmanship.

The significance of Christ Church far exceeds its age, it was the catalyst for Parliament deciding to pass the Historic Places Act (1954) and the later formation of the Historic Places Trust. This was the first time New Zealanders had lobbied to save an historic building. Christ Church holds a New Zealand Heritage List Category 1 registration.

The church is still a consecrated Anglican Church and while it does not hold regular services, it is popular for small intimate weddings.

Programme:

12pm: Open Day commences

1pm: Graveyard Tour

2pm: Annual Service followed by afternoon tea (1 hour)

No booking is required

Location: 73 Eastern Hutt Road Wingate, Lower Hutt

Cost: Free

Contact: info@christ-church.org.nz

Accessibility: The church is not wheelchair accessible.