Country Churches of NZ 77. All Saints', Foxton, Manawatu

I wrote and illustrated Country Churches of New Zealand. It was published in 2002 by New Holland, Publishers and is still on sale in bookshops. The publishers have kindly agreed to me re-publishing some of the book’s images and descriptions in this blog.

ALL SAINTS, FOXTON

While the huge cross in the west wall seemed to me a bit 'over the top', the porch and apse of All Saints, Foxton, reminded me of St Thomas's at Sanson. It, like St Thomas's, is a nicely proportioned building and was designed by the same architect, Charles Tringham. (A chancel enlargement of 1899 is the work of de Jersey Clere.)

It was built in 1876 on land purchased from Maori for 100 gold sovereigns by Capt Francis Robinson, the first European to take up residence in the area.

The original shingle roofs were replaced in 1908, and the baptistery was added in 1967. Inside there are lots of memorial stained-glass windows of the saints, and a reredos, which I think is unusual for a New Zealand country church.

© DON DONOVAN
donovan@ihug.co.nz
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