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- Rotorua Photo News, No 6, 14 Mar 1964
- Rotorua Photo News, No 51, 17 Nov 1967
- Rotorua Photo News, No 40, 17 Dec 1966
- Rotorua Photo News, No 7, 11 Apr 1964
- Rotorua Photo News, No 17, 13 Feb 1965
- Rotorua Photo News, No 22, 3 Jul 1965
- Rotorua Photo News, No 44, 5 May 1967
- Rotorua Photo News, No 52, 15 Dec 1967
St Faith's Anglican Church of Ōhinemutu
The Māori Church
St Faith's was known as 'the Māori Church' during the late 1880's to early 1900's.
In 1880-1881, principal Arawa chiefs were making moves to set aside a piece of land at Ōhinemutu to build a church. It was to be called St Faith’s. Part of the Muruika Peninsula was decided on and locals called in Tūhoto Ariki to lift the tapu on the area, which was a burial ground for earlier residents of that pā.
“Reverend Ihaia Te Ahu (who has steadfastly labored amidst many discouragements as an ordained clergyman of the Church of England since 1860 amongst his countrymen, the loyal tribe of the Arawa) is very desirous of erecting a church at Ohinemutu where he resides. He feels the great want of a suitable building in which the people may assemble for public worship…. I would therefore very earnestly appeal to the English residents, and to the many visitor and tourists… to contribute towards building of a commodious and suitable Church, such as will be an ornament to the new township.” This article is followed by a subscription list of those who have already contributed. Daily Telegraph 1881-06-01, pg. 4.
The Bishop of Waiapu laid the foundation stone on 5 June 1884.
St Faith’s was consecrated in 1885.
Reverend Īhāia Te Ahu was appointed 1st Vicar of St Faith’s in 1882 and remained until 1889.
Reverend F. H. Spencer (son of Seymour) took up residence at St Faith's in 1887 and remained there until 1895.
Rev. S. Ingle arrived to take the post in 1896 and Ratema Te Awekōtuku was admitted as a deacon. Te Awekōtuku served there until 1902, followed by Walter Tuahangata Fraser until 1905. Frederick Augustus Bennett (born at Ōhinemutu in 1871) was ordained as a deacon in 1896, and then, in 1897, as a priest. He took charge of St Faith’s c1905-1917, and was ordained as the first Māori Bishop of Aotearoa in 1928.
Bishop Bennett served until his death in 1950 and is buried under the sanctuary of ‘his’ church. During his time the new St Faith’s was built and the older one moved and turned to face west, c.1910. It was still used as a Sunday school and church hall until February 1936, when it collapsed during a severe gale. The pieces of the old church were then removed from the site altogether.
For more information see the St Faith's website or their Facebook page. https://www.stfaithsrotorua.co.nz/
Post written by Alison. 2018, July 20
With thanks to the Don Stafford Collection, Papers Past and Auckland City Libraries for the above information and images.
Relates To
St Faith's Anglican Church of Ōhinemutu. Rotorua Library - Te Aka Mauri, accessed 15/11/2025, https://pakiaka.rotorualibrary.govt.nz/nodes/view/183
