Church of St Simon and St Jude

A path lined with cherry trees, in their autumn splendour, leads us to the entrance of this small country church made from native timber. The door creeks as you lift the handle and turn, the smell is musky in the entrance which is compact with just enough room for a couple to be welcomed by the vicar. Double doors lead into the church, it's a little cold as light captures the richness of the Kauri wood, the old pedal organ which is still in use and some of the original pews sit up the front, all is beautiful in its simplicity.
 
The foundation stone for the Ashley Bank church of St Simon and St Jude was laid on 28 October 1870.  It was the first church of a new parish, the headquarters of which were to be situated at Fernside.  Charles Pemberton donated the land and Benjamin W Mountfort designed the building.  C W Mountfort designed an addition of one bay to the nave in 1884. 
 
Regular services were held in the church until 1966.  In 1973, a group of local residents stopped the church from being demolished after Church authorities had deemed it surplus to requirements, and the Historic Places Trust considered the church to have little historic or architectural value. However, it was discovered that it was a Mountfort designed church, lending further credence to the residents campaign.   A tender for the church from a buyer who wanted to re-use the kauri had been accepted, but the residents protested and bought the building for $1000.  Once purchased, the group set about restoring it and mounting it on concrete piles. 
 
Today non-denominational services are held with occasional weddings and baptisms.  In recent years an annual fete has been held to raise funds for the building’s upkeep.
 
This church is of significant architectural quality, with kauri timbering and stained glass windows. It has local historical significance as the place of worship for Ashley (near Rangiora) residents for over 100 years, and is held in high regard by the local community.
 
St Simon and St Jude is now Category II on the Historic Places Trust Register.

Church of St Simon and St Jude - as summer approaches back in 2011, an idea of the size of the church especially the entrance.

Thanks to Paladian for hosting this weeks Wide Angle Wednesday with the theme being 'interior'.

Thank you for all the stars, hearts and your lovely words for my last few blips which are always appreciated and I'm thrilled you've enjoyed them.

Happy Wednesday everyone :)