Auckland may not be able to rival most of the world in terms of the age of it’s churches (the oldest date from the 1850s) but it certainly has varied and attractive examples. One of the most picturesque, both in design and location, is St Stephen’s Chapel, dating from 1857. It’s a tiny building, with expansive views out across Ports of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf.
Close by is the impressive Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Parnell, which was recently expanded at the back with a chapel perfectly suited to events.
This new chapel extension also connects the building finally with it’s neighbour, the beautiful Old St Paul’s, which was relocated from it’s original site across the road. One advantage of a wooden church!
There are a number of significant churches in the CBD, including another St Paul’s Church, on Symonds Steet, the obviously expanded St Andrews Presbyterian Church by the University of Auckland, and the central St Patrick’s Cathedral, dwarfed by surrounding buildings and the Skytower.
The start of Remuera Road in Newmarket is home to three churches in the space of about 200m, the Anglican St. Mark’s, Catholic St Michaels, and Presbyterian St Lukes.
For a less traditional design the colourful St Josephs in Grey Lynn is a wonderful community space.
All Saints Church in Ponsonby is beautifully designed and proportioned.
If you’re interested in more check out New Zealand Churches, and there were some pretty spectacular churches in Georgia.
