Landmark church holds many memories

The distinctive Mihaia Anglican Church at Tolaga Bay is to be demolished after structural damage was identified and deemed too expensive to repair. A new church, possibly serving as a community centre too, will be built in its place. It will be the third Anglican church on that site. All pictures by Liam Clayton

The distinctive A-frame Mihaia Anglican Church at Tolaga Bay is to be demolished to make way for a new church.

It is the second church on the site and has lasted less than half the time of  its predecessor. The first Anglican church there opened in 1876, and made way for the next place of worship in 1977.

Cyclones and years of varying weather conditions have taken their toll on the building, causing major internal structural damage.

A building engineer was asked to carry out a building inspection on the Mihaia infrastructure.   In his report he found major internal damages making the building unsafe.

“The church is now leaking and it’s unsafe,” said Archdeacon Padre Bill Gray.  Initial plans were to repair the damage but the cost outweighed that of a complete rebuild.

Discussions about design and structure of this, the third Mihaia church, will happen when a feasibility study and geotech report are completed.

After this a date will be set to deconsecrate the existing building before demolition.

“Subject to confirmation and a collective agreement, future plans are to look at building something like a community centre,” said Padre Gray.  “Because of the weather pattern, it would be not only a place to worship but for other things.  If there is a civil emergency, the building could be used.”

The rich history of Te Mihaia Church began in 1876 when it was built by Duncan Stirling. Mr Stirling was the son of John Stirling and Elizabeth Davis. He married Mihi Kotukutuku, who was a chiefly figure among her people of Te Whānau a Apanui.

“Her descendants still attend  services, in particular the Tangohau family whose mother the late Madaleine Tangohau, a great grand-daughter of Mihi Kotukutuku and Duncan Stirling, served the church in the true spirit of servanthood,” Padre Gray said.

The A-frame church was officially opened on November 26, 1977 in a ceremony conducted by the Bishop of Waiapu, the Right Reverend Paul Reeves. He went on to become the Primate of the New Zealand Anglican Church and later the Governor General of New Zealand.

The memorial gate from the original church at the entrance and the original bell are both features that will be restored to the new build.

Adrian Stewart, a regular to the church, has warm memories of his marriage to  Horowai Tangohau at the old church back in 1968.

“I remember Wai (Horowai) took her time getting to the church. Meanwhile I watched the sparrows flying in and out of the broken church windows, making a nest for their babies in the ceiling.  This inspired me to do the same,” Mr McKay said.  He is now a great-grandparent to “at the moment, two”, he said.  Wai’s great-great grandfather was Duncan Stirling.

For now, business continues as usual with services being held instead at St Andrews Church in Endeavour Street, Tolaga Bay. These are every second and fourth Sunday at 10am.  As well as church services, a gathering take place every Sunday at 6pm at Heipipi Park, Tolaga Bay, opposite the police station. A free meal is available for anyone wishing to come along.

The history of the spiritual leaders of the church —

1878—1885 Rev Kerehona Piwaka

1890 – 1990 Rev Rutene Te Aihu

1909 – 1915 Rev Timutimu Tawhei

1916 – 1919 Rev Wiremu Tureia Puha

1926 – 1948 Rev Hauwaho Tangohau

1948 – 1952 Rev Nehe Hone Makarini

1952-  1959 Rev William Brown (later Archbishop of Aotearoa).

1959 – 1967 Rev Ramahaki Rangiaho

1967 – 1977 Rev Te Keepa Paenga

1981 – 1986 Archdeacon George O’Connor, later bishop

1986 – 1992 Rev Apirana Keelan

1992 – 2000 Rev Boydie Kirikiri

2000 – present Archdeacon William Thomas Gray