How a little church from Awanui found its final resting place on Aotea
Prior to the early 1900s worship on Aotea Great Barrier Island was held in family homes, farm buildings and gardens.
With a small population spread over several remote communities and no connecting road network it was impossible for one resident clergy to serve the entire island.
Later, services were held in schoolrooms and then more recently in community halls. The first official church was a Catholic church built for the timber workers at the Kauri Timber Company mill at Whangaparapara around 1909. Once the mill closed in 1913, the church was demolished.
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections
In Port Fitzroy, a church hall was built in 1926 to provide a place for Sunday services, a school and community hall.
During WWII the building was reused as an army base mess hall and more recently, home of the Port Fitzroy Boat Club.
Source: Garth Cooper Collection
In October 1981, following a meeting at the home of Beverley and Les Blackwell, the Great Barrier Island Interdenominational Church Committee was formed. Together, the committee set about raising money to build a church and secure land.
The Methodist Church kindly donated the land at Medlands Beach (originally gifted to them by John Medland) and several designs were submitted for a church. The Committee also considered using an existing building should a suitable one be found. A quaint church built in 1903 of native Kauri was found in Awanui, Northland and kindly gifted by the Anglican Parish of Kaitaia. Financial assistance required to get the church to the island was provided by the Catholic and Presbyterian Churches.
With Awanui approximately 100km from Aotea, the little church was about to embark on its biggest adventure journeying to the island by barge.
In June 1986, after a storm delayed the initial landing, the church made a sudden and dramatic arrival at Medlands Beach.
Skipper Basil Subritzky, said he had a hunch about where the church should be unloaded ‘I felt the Lord say, “Stick it up by that island Bas” and it turned out to be the best place’.
Following its arrival, volunteers worked tirelessly for six months to restore the church ready for its dedication. On 30 November 1986, the community gathered for a day of blessing and celebration. Locals noted it was the most clergy the island had ever seen.
From that day onwards, every Sunday, you’ll hear the sound of a lone church bell ringing throughout the valley (sometimes 20 times to ensure everyone knows). Together Christians from across the island gather in worship - with the occasional visitors from as far away as Alaska and Germany.
Almost 40 years after its dedication the St John the Evangelist Community Church proudly stands as the only traditional church building on the island.
In 2023, a meeting and social space aptly named ‘The Teahouse’ was constructed for both the church and wider Aotea community.
A generous donation from benevolent parishioner Ray Simpkin provided the initial seeding money for the build. Donations from our partner churches, Local Board, and community fundraising efforts allowed this much needed space to become a reality.
That same year, a lychgate was built to form the church entrance and marks the change from public space to church sanctuary.
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