"St Mary's church" Waimate Island Local Custom Tip by rozehill

One of the loveliest of South Canterbury's churches. St Mary's Esk Valley was designed by the Christchurch architect B.W. Mountfort and built of limestone from the Albury district. The church had its origins in tragedy. In 1878, Ellen, the young wife of Charles Meyer, owner of Blue Cliffs Station, died following an operation. After the death, Charles Meyer instructed his trustees to build the little stone church to fulfill his wife's wish and to her memory. The church was consecrated in May 1880 by Bishop Harper. The interior is rich with colour from windows dedicated to members of some of the early settler families in the district.

othercontact: Church Hill Road,