Oxford Terrace Baptist Church

Oxford Terrace Baptist Church
Oxford Terrace Baptist Church in 2008
Coordinates: 43°31′38″S 172°38′35″E / 43.5273°S 172.6430°E / -43.5273; 172.6430
Location	Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
Country	New Zealand
Denomination	Baptists
Website	http://www.otbc.org.nz/
Architecture
Status	Church
Functional status	Building collapsed
Heritage designation	Category II
Designated	10 September 2004
Architect(s)	Edward J. Saunders
Architectural type	Neoclassical style
Completed	9 July 1882
Construction cost	£3,130
Closed	4 September 2010
Demolished	22 February 2011
Specifications
Capacity	600

Oxford Terrace Baptist Church is located in the Christchurch Central City on a prominent corner property fronting the Avon River, the main building was significantly damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and collapsed in the subsequent February 2011 Christchurch earthquake. This building had a Category II listing by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

History

View of the church in 1885. The wooden building on the left is the older church transported to here from the Hereford Street site.

The Christchurch Baptist church was founded in 1863 by 19 settlers from England. Decimus Dolamore, who was instrumental for establishing the Baptist faith in New Zealand, was the first minister.^[1] The congregation first met in the town hall in High Street. In 1864, a church was built in Lichfield Street opposite where the Bus Exchange is located (as of 2011). The congregation split in 1867, but reunited in 1870 and built a church in Hereford Street.^[1] The congregation decided to build larger premises and purchased land for £1,325 on the corner of Oxford Terrace and Madras Street, overlooking the Avon River.^[2]

A design competition was won by local architect Edward J. Saunders. The congregation decided, though, that the total costs of the project was beyond their means. As an interim measure, the Hereford Street church was transported to the new site. Much public amusement was caused when the church sat on a wagon next to ChristChurch Cathedral for a weekend in 1879. Three weeks after arriving at the new site, the building was damaged by fire, but opened again some months later.^[2] The older building was in use until 1903, when it once again caught fire.^[3]

View of the church after the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, with props holding the frontage up.

Tenders for the new church were called for in August 1881, but the prices submitted were too high, ranging from £3,956 to £5,337.^[3] A revised tender in September 1881 received a quote of £3,130 by Morey and McHale, which was accepted. The Reverend C. Dallaston laid the foundation stone on 14 October 1881 and the project was completed and opened to the public on 9 July 1882. At that point, it was the largest Baptist church in the country.^[2] An organ was imported from England and installed in 1915.^[1]

The main building was significantly damaged in the 4 September 2010 earthquake^[4] and collapsed in the subsequent 22 February 2011 earthquake. It was demolished in late June 2011 following further collapse in the 13 June 2011 earthquake.

Heritage listing

The building after the collapse on 22 February 2011.

On 10 September 2004, the church was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II historic place, with the registration number being 1853. It is significant for its Neoclassical architecture, which is unusual for Christchurch. The church had the last remaining temple frontage in the city.^[2]

Peter Beck, the dean of ChristChurch Cathedral, lists the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church as one of the "iconic churches of the city".^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "About us". Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. http://www.otbc.org.nz/about/. Retrieved 19 March 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Wilson, Pam. "Oxford Terrace Baptist Church". New Zealand Historic Places Trust. http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=1853&m=advanced. Retrieved 19 March 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Baptist Church, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch". Christchurch City Libraries. http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Photos/disc12/IMG0077.asp. Retrieved 19 March 2011. 
4. ^ van Beynen, Martin (5 September 2010). "Quake devastates Christchurch's heritage". The Press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4096832/Quake-devastates-Christchurchs-heritage. Retrieved 19 March 2011. 
5. ^ van Beynen, Martin (8 March 2011). "Brit's $4m gift to cathedral earthquake fund". The Press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4741785/Brits-4m-gift-to-cathedral-earthquake-fund. Retrieved 19 March 2011.