This old oak tree was grown from an acorn, planted ca August 1899. The acorn was sent out from Halifax in Yorkshire, England by the Rev. Charles Ibbotson. The tree has survived a number of misadventures over the years. PLAN
22. MĀORI TROUBLE
This gravestone and row of crosses remember men who fell in the ‘Māori trouble’ of 1861. The First Taranaki War was an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that took place between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand’s North Island from March 1860 to March 1861.
23. OLD GRAVES
These gravestones record the deaths of various ‘pakehas’ who were ‘murdered’ by Māori rebels in the 1860s. The text gives a somewhat slanted view of New Zealand’s history!
24. CHURCH PIONEERS
These are graves of early pioneers of the church. George Robinson (1796 – 1876) built the original St Mary’s, Rev William Bolland was the first Vicar, and Henry Govett the first Archdeacon.
25. HATHERLY HALL
We enter the Cathedral by way of Hatherly Hall. The window at right is in the Hall, the scout window is in the link to the Cathedral. The window at left shows a scout with a tongue of fire and hand above. The text is, ‘In the power of the Holy Spirit, go forth in peace’. The arched window shows a Nativity scene.
27. NORTH NAVE
We shall designate the two naves North and South. The North nave aligns with the sanctuary. The timber used in the original church was milled by settlers from their fledgeling farms. Notice the massive corbells at the top of the North wall.
28. NAVE ROOF
The timber supports for the roof are simple but artistic and attractive.
29. WEST WALL
After the over-view, it is time to look at some detail, so we begin at the back of the South nave. We notice a cabinet display at left, two stained glass windows, and a Māori memorial at right.
30. DISPLAY AND WINDOW
The cabinet at left contains a display of Christian stoles and banners and cards. The two windows bear the texts: ‘Blessed are (they) that mourn for they (shall) be comforted’ [left], and ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God’ [right]. Each text is illustrated by a figure below.
31. MĀORI MEMORIAL
The memorial of carving, panelling and artwork is explained by the adjacent text. Under the heading ‘Love one another’, this is a memorial for the Māori people of Taranaki who died during the conflicts of 1860 – 1870.
32. BAPTISTRY
The baptistry was completed in 1862. Just below the window is a Mount Somers stone Memorial from WWII. This was installed, and unveiled by Archdeacon Gavin on January 1951. Next to the font stands the Paschal candle, newly lit each Easter to symbolize the presence of the risen Christ in his church.
33. FONT
The Caen stone baptismal font was given in 1852 by the Revd W. C. Cotton and later moved to its present position.
34. BAPTISTRY PANELS
On the wall behind the font we find these attractive panels containing the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and two Stars of David containing texts relating to the Eucharist.
35. NORTH WEST CORNER
Moving around the nave from the baptistry we come to these crossed flags and a stained glass window above a list of names on the North wall. The window shows the Risen Christ and carries the texts ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ and ‘Greater love hath no man’.
36. NORTH NAVE WALL
Walking past the North door, we come to a poster with memories of Europe in the 1914–1918 War. Below are three plaques remembering devoted members of St Mary’s. At right is a window depicting Jesus as Light of the world.
37. NORTH NAVE WALL
Between the next two stained glass windows are a further pair of crossed flags, and three plaques in memory of a pioneer settler and two distinguished members of the Armed Forces. The memorial window at right is an attractive floral tribute.
38. TWO PLAQUES
The final two plaques on this North wall commemorate Frederick Lewis Webster who was a devoted member of St Mary’s Parish, and Mary Elizabeth Webster, (presumably) his wife. This North wall is the only remaining original section of wall.
39. PEW CARVINGS
The ends of the pews carry simple memorial plaques – many from the 1800s, and beautifully executed carvings.
