Knox Church is a Presbyterian church in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was damaged during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and re-opened in 2014.
| Knox Church | |
|---|---|
 Knox Church in August 2019, following reconstruction | |
 Knox Church | |
| 43°31′16″S 172°37′43″E / 43.52111°S 172.62861°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Website | www |
| Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Category II |
| Designated | 6 September 1984[1] |
| Architect(s) | Robert England, Wilkie & Bruce Architects (restoration) |
Years built | 1902 |
History
editThe original church was built in 1880 to a design by Samuel Farr. When the attendance increased beyond the capacity of the building, a new church was built in 1902 alongside the first one to a design by Robert England.[2] The church was design in the Gothic Revival style featuring a brick exterior, a distinctive multi-gabled roof, and large timber archways.[3] Rimu and kauri wood were used for the roof, dado panelling, interior woodwoork, and seating,[4]
Knox Church was one of Christchurch's historic buildings that was badly damaged during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. During the earthquake, the brick gables of Knox Church crumbled from the timber structure leaving the roof exposed[5] from 2011 to 2014 when reconstruction began.[6] The new design was developed by Wilkie & Bruce Architects using the surviving wooden roof structure supported by new concrete columns and steel ties, and a new copper metal cladding system.[7][8] The original timber on the columns and interior paneling were also retained and restored.[4] Other buildings in the Knox complex remained functional.
The restoration received a Public Architecture Award at the NZIA Canterbury Awards in 2015. It was praised for its modern seismic design and its sympathetic restoration of the original design.[9]
A stained glass window is featured within the western gable, made by artist Graham Stewart. Stewart had first created a stained glass window for the church in 1997, which was destroyed during the earthquake. He created a new window in 2018, which depicts the Canterbury landscape.[10]
Church organ
editThe organ at Knox Church was built by Edgar Henry Jenkins in 1904. At the time of the earthquake it was 110 years old and was significantly damaged. The organ was restored by the South Island Organ Company during the reconstruction, costing $500,000 NZD. The organ was converted from a Tubular-pneumatic action to an electric and new trumpet and trombone tones were added.[11]
Parish hall
editThe wooden buildings from 1880 were replaced in 1964 with a modern parish hall. The hall had a brick exterior and contained new facilities including a large hall, chapel, lounge, kitchen, and 12 classrooms on the upper floor. The parish hall was designed by Paul Pascoe and built by Messrs Husband Brothers.[12]
The hall opening was attended by Governor General Fergusson and Mayor George Manning .[13]
Wilkie & Bruce designed a new postmodern style interior refurbishment in 1993. This is particularly noticeable in the chapel which has a false barrel vault ceiling and abstract stained glass panes.[14]
List of ministers
editGallery
edit
The restored church
Altar
Ceiling
Stained glass above the Victoria St entrance
Church brick exterior, 2008
Church hours after the 2011 earthquake
Knox Parish Hall exterior
Chapel interior
Chapel interior
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References
edit
- ↑ "Knox Church (Presbyterian)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ "History". Knox Church. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ "Knox Presbyterian Church rebuild". Architecture Now. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Knox Church (Presbyterian)". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ "Knox Church – The Architectural Centre Inc". 20 February 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ "New Zealand church – Knox Church, a congregation within the Presbyterian Church". www.knoxchurch.co.nz. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ Harvie, Will (22 February 2013). "Knox Church will be rebuilt". The Press. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ "Knox Church – Christchurch CBD". Wilkie + Bruce Architects. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ "Knox Presbyterian Church Rebuild - 2015 Canterbury Architecture Awards". NZIA. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ McDonald, Liz (23 June 2018). "New glow in rebuilt Knox church". The Press. p. 3.
- ↑ "Organ music heard again at Knox Church". The Press. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Knox Church's New Hall Opened". Press. CIII (30467): 1. 15 June 1964.
- ↑ "Knox Parish Hall Opened". Press. Vol. CIII, no. 30467. 15 June 1964. p. 12. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Knox Church Parish Hall". openchch.nz/. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "Call to Knox Church". The Press. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 26468. 9 July 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ "Register of New Zealand Presbyterian Church : Ministers, Deaconesses & Missionaries from 1840 : McKenzie to McKirdy". Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ "Obituary : Very Rev. M. W. Wilson". The Press. Vol. CIX, no. 32048. 24 July 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ↑ "Register of New Zealand Presbyterian Church : Ministers, Deaconesses & Missionaries from 1840 : Willetts to Wilson". Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 5 May 2024.