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ALBUM - Turiwhate Church.1954.
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Description This is at Turiwhate, once a thriving little mill and stage coach stop town on State Highway 73, between Kumara and Jacksons. This was the Catholic Church, and is on private property. Very special little spot, the site of many christenings, weddings and celebrations for the "Christchuch Road" community over the years.
Peter Kerr.. Rangiriri Creek was the site of a police barracks in the earliest days of the Old Christchurch Road. The police land later became an education reserve and school site, Just downstream of this well remembered little church.Date of Photo1954Map[1] ContributorDick Stevens
Peter Kerr.. Rangiriri Creek was the site of a police barracks in the earliest days of the Old Christchurch Road. The police land later became an education reserve and school site, Just downstream of this well remembered little church.Date of Photo1954Map[1] ContributorDick Stevens
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Location (city or town)TuriwhateLandmark (Place)Turiwhate church
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Category Tagchurch
From Facebook
CommentsRhonda Glasson I have driven past heaps off times and no the turiwhate church is down a side road on the river driveway I walked down I come too a gat behind a couple of houses could someone please direct me
Gillian Pugh Thanks so much for this
Laura Mills Detlaff It's just past where the green phone box I think Rhonda Glasson
Rhonda Glasson Thank you that's were I walked down but next time I'll knock on the farmers door and ask
Sophie Allan Would make an amazing accommodation house.
Gillian Pugh This is at Turiwhate, once a thriving little mill and stage coach stop town on State Highway 73, between Kumara and Jacksons. This was the Catholic Church, and is on private property. Very special little spot, the site of many christenings, weddings and celebrations for the "Christchuch Road" community over the years.
Dick Stevens Gillian as you come into Turiwhate from the west,as you enter Turiwhate,there is a house on your left,straight passed a road your left takes you down to wards the river ,bingo there it is
Gillian Pugh This church is on the farm where I grew up. My father went to school in this building before it was moved.
Cheryl Hutchison The Church was built new by Father Leonard the Kumara parish priest and Bill Hutchison my father in law and local volunteers.
Peter Kerr Rangiriri Creek, not Ranginui, was the site of a police barracks in the earliest days of the Old Christchurch Road. The police land later became an education reserve and school site, Just downstream of this well remembered little church.
Rhonda Glasson Thank you dick
Kevin Oregan
Is it still there ?
Heather Newby
Kevin Oregan Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan
Heather Newby Up Pugh's area - wonder if our List MP is caring for this special place
Moi Mclaughlin
Went to mass there many times while staying with my Sister at Kawakha Station.
Reply9h
Trish Hutana
GourgeousJenny Jones
Just wondering if anyone had any photos of Turiwhate mill as I lived there as a kid also my uncle Charlie Schroder lived in the mill house.
Terence Pugh
Jenny Jones many memorys as a kid of Charlie and Rosie and the mill
Nova Hichens
Jenny Jones my Dad worked at that mill, I remember the name Schroder family.
Heather Newby
Jenny Jones https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23950
Malfroys mill at Turiwhate *PHOTO ALBUM*
WESTCOAST.RECOLLECT.CO.NZ
Malfroys mill at Turiwhate *PHOTO ALBUM*
Malfroys mill at Turiwhate *PHOTO ALBUM*
ReplyRemove Preview1m
Jenny Jones
Charlie & Lydia were my great aunt & uncle my Dad Arthur Jones also worked at the mill .
Tom Ryall
It sure was a lovely wee church
Wendy Dense
Neame family church ?
Dave Neame
Terence Pugh
Wendy Dense Stormy Neame owned the farm before Pat and Viv Pugh brought it ,the original chimney of the Neame homestead is or was still standing at the shearing shed ,the Neames built the house we were brought up in
Gabrelle Hart
Beautiful wee Chapel...
Tony De Goldi
The Treacy family homestead was the coach stop . My Grandmother Veronica Tracey was the youngest daughter in a family of 12 ? Children . One of the older daughters married an Australian named Pugh and the Pugh family are still living on the site of th…
Colleen Yee
I would love to know THE DATE OF THE CLOSING MASS, and if anyone took any photos that day.
Becky Pugh
Colleen Yee
May be an image of text that says 'FINAL MASS AT OUR LADY OF THE WAY TURIWHATE 10 am 2 February 1997'
Colleen Yee
Thank you Becky. Is that the front cover or was there more inside? Did the Greymouth Star have an article about the closing?
Becky Pugh
May be an image of text that says 'Hc So Him whom alone cslo'er trust my fear below Ûhecp the the Refrain Lord and sound mercy ofGod birth clear running water cannot are moaning fulfil... He guide When prepare not Peace Do COMMUNION: Ev'ry and and I'm Jesus knee gone ahome Heave Christ W Iwill ह t send Lord dead my Spirit who will One thing Asacrifice Now myh make head raised confess Lord Lord'
Becky Pugh
Colleen Yee
Kate Fairhall
Becky Pugh All these are my favourite hymns and I had two of them for my Mums and Aunty's funerals.
Reply2h
Jeannie Sales
Great that you kept that Becky I will try to dig out the old photos tonight
KateandMike Lilley
My Husband Mike and I were married here on August 1 1981
Jeannie Sales
So many memories and I have some photos of the closing Mass somewhere and I think my sister also has some My cousin Maryann and I were christened there
Terence Pugh
Bless me Father for I have sinned
Jimmy Teen
Terence Pugh haha I bet you kept the old bugger busy
Trish Barry Andrews
Terence Pugh a lot !!!
Peter Ilton
Terence Pugh not enough hrs in the day to listen to all your sins
Barry Wright
Terence Pugh no wonder it falling down Pughy
Maurie McGrath
I believe the parish priest from Kumara Father Jo Lenord was the driving force to convert the old School building into the church.
Greg Mait
Maurie McGrath Is that church the same building that was once the school just down from the Jacksons hotel ?
Terence Pugh
Greg Mait that building is still there Greg ,Rod Buchanan used it as a storage shed for bee hives for years ,the Turiwhate church was moved from Nortons at the Rangiri creek ,as Mauri McGrath just described by Fr Joe Lenoard and the parishoners ,we hav…
Greg Mait
Thanks Terry . I went to school there for a year when my aunt, Sue Manson was the teacher at the time. For some reason I thought it was a little bigger and I remember there was a pot belly in the corner. Only about 7 or 8 students. Used to spend most of the day looking out the window at the waterfalls on the other side of the river lol.
Haley Pugh
I have many memories as a child of the walk down across the creek and through the paddock to mass at the church. It was always a good catch up with everyone in the valley on a Sunday, although as a kid the adults seemed to talk for far too long after mass. I know Mum and Bryan Fitzgerald have spent many hours down there keeping the inside in top shape, and we had a family working bee to give it a real going over a few years ago for a family members wedding too. The outside has been waterproofed as best as we could with what we had to protect the interior
Glenys Anne Byrne
Haley Pugh I have fond memories of celebrating Mass there for your mum's 60th birthday didn't need a bell, your dad gave a perfect rendition of an alter bell, to help celebrate the eucharist. Xx
Reply1hEdited
Jude Alfeld
Lovely spot
Colleen Yee
Becky Pugh - Do you know the history of where the altar rails came from? Also the windows behind the altar?
Becky Pugh
Colleen Yee no sorry, Jeannie Sales may know?
Bob Laing
Heather Newby
I recall the church. I think the property it is on was / still is owned by the Pugh family.
Terence Pugh
some of the priests from my memory ,DK Osullivan ,Dave Carey(how fast can the 610 Wolseley go Lord ? ,Fr Tymon(ole Tickka),Bernie Goulding(Im a priest not a bloody deer culler ) ,Barry Jones (have you been drinking again Terence??)Dan Doyle ,John OConn…
Jeannie Sales
Too right they could have been Tezz Good times for us remember the early morning Mass with the kerosene heater going? And only boys were allowed to be altar servers back in the day and women had to cover our bloody heads with a hat or scarf grrr
KateandMike Lilley
Terence Pugh The stories. The Politics. The Rugby. The laughter. They might not have been perfect, but we would be hard pressed to find a better bunch of Adults to guide us motley lot of kids through life
Robert Keown
Terence Pugh yes farther Terence
Peter Ilton
Terence Pugh start writing, I'll buy a copy, it'll be a laugh a page
Nigel Lordy
The Lord has forgiven
Marie Beams
Lots of wonderful memories at that church.
Aileen Hore
Yes I remember Aunt Shirley telling me about you lived up there
Maggie Boot
Sometimes known as the church of the Good Thief due to the purloined material used to build it Mons Gerry O’Connor called it the church of 50gates
KateandMike Lilley
Maggie Boot so true
PaulAnthony Teens
Ah the memories
Kerry Molloy
What ever happened to the catholic church at Rotomanu. It was on your right just before a bridge as you headed toward Inchbonnie .Remember it well for its lovely interior and the latin masses . My very early altar boy career was in the era of the immortal Monsignor Long ,an ardent vocalist of latin.
Kevin Oregan
Is it still there ?
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Kevin Oregan Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan
Heather Newby Up Pugh's area - wonder if our List MP is caring for this special place
Colleen Yee
I would love to know where the altar-rails came from?
KateandMike Lilley
My Husband and I were married here 43 years ago.
Phyllis Aberhart
Can you see it from the highway? If so I'll have to havexa look this summer
Bob Laing
Most people would not know where Turiwhate is theses days
Jeannie Sales
It was the centre of our Sunday So many lovely memories and great times with family and friends there
Bruce Whitfield
What's the situation now .. ?
Kathleen Hema
e church which is on land owned by the Tracey family i was at the opening as was all my family who had a lot of input into the rerstruation
John Ryall
Worked on the Church with Fr Joe had we upset with him had to call on Molly and her stockwhip to sort the situation
Kathleen Hema
thr
Kathleen Hema
FR Jo lenora built y
Shelley Harris
I used to live here and would wander past most days and sit inside for some calmness.
The most glorious magical spot in the world
June Williams
My grandad was a saw doctor at the Turiwhate Sawmill. He used to drive the mill truck from Hokitika every day.
Joe Rosen
Funding needed
Rhonda Glasson
Is it possible to go and have a look at it
Christine Banks
The church sits on what was my dad's family land, the Neames'. Peter mentioned Rangiriri, the land being education land, the school is still there near the road and bridge, used as a bach, from 10yrs old, my dad, Terry, attended this school. While his mum was catholic, hence the church, his dad, Walter wasn't, so not all of the seven children, 21yrs between the eldest and youngest, in the family, became Catholics, including my dad, the eldest. Thanks for posting.
Mary Costello
Love This
PaulAnthony Teens
Did the alter boy duty a few times there.
Linda Reedy
Gillian Pugh wasn't it magic it had absolutely everything in it
Gillian Pugh Thanks so much for this
Laura Mills Detlaff It's just past where the green phone box I think Rhonda Glasson
Rhonda Glasson Thank you that's were I walked down but next time I'll knock on the farmers door and ask
Sophie Allan Would make an amazing accommodation house.
Gillian Pugh This is at Turiwhate, once a thriving little mill and stage coach stop town on State Highway 73, between Kumara and Jacksons. This was the Catholic Church, and is on private property. Very special little spot, the site of many christenings, weddings and celebrations for the "Christchuch Road" community over the years.
Dick Stevens Gillian as you come into Turiwhate from the west,as you enter Turiwhate,there is a house on your left,straight passed a road your left takes you down to wards the river ,bingo there it is
Gillian Pugh This church is on the farm where I grew up. My father went to school in this building before it was moved.
Cheryl Hutchison The Church was built new by Father Leonard the Kumara parish priest and Bill Hutchison my father in law and local volunteers.
Peter Kerr Rangiriri Creek, not Ranginui, was the site of a police barracks in the earliest days of the Old Christchurch Road. The police land later became an education reserve and school site, Just downstream of this well remembered little church.
Rhonda Glasson Thank you dick
Kevin Oregan
Is it still there ?
Heather Newby
Kevin Oregan Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan
Heather Newby Up Pugh's area - wonder if our List MP is caring for this special place
Moi Mclaughlin
Went to mass there many times while staying with my Sister at Kawakha Station.
Reply9h
Trish Hutana
GourgeousJenny Jones
Just wondering if anyone had any photos of Turiwhate mill as I lived there as a kid also my uncle Charlie Schroder lived in the mill house.
Terence Pugh
Jenny Jones many memorys as a kid of Charlie and Rosie and the mill
Nova Hichens
Jenny Jones my Dad worked at that mill, I remember the name Schroder family.
Heather Newby
Jenny Jones https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23950
Malfroys mill at Turiwhate *PHOTO ALBUM*
WESTCOAST.RECOLLECT.CO.NZ
Malfroys mill at Turiwhate *PHOTO ALBUM*
Malfroys mill at Turiwhate *PHOTO ALBUM*
ReplyRemove Preview1m
Jenny Jones
Charlie & Lydia were my great aunt & uncle my Dad Arthur Jones also worked at the mill .
Tom Ryall
It sure was a lovely wee church
Wendy Dense
Neame family church ?
Dave Neame
Terence Pugh
Wendy Dense Stormy Neame owned the farm before Pat and Viv Pugh brought it ,the original chimney of the Neame homestead is or was still standing at the shearing shed ,the Neames built the house we were brought up in
Gabrelle Hart
Beautiful wee Chapel...
Tony De Goldi
The Treacy family homestead was the coach stop . My Grandmother Veronica Tracey was the youngest daughter in a family of 12 ? Children . One of the older daughters married an Australian named Pugh and the Pugh family are still living on the site of th…
Colleen Yee
I would love to know THE DATE OF THE CLOSING MASS, and if anyone took any photos that day.
Becky Pugh
Colleen Yee
May be an image of text that says 'FINAL MASS AT OUR LADY OF THE WAY TURIWHATE 10 am 2 February 1997'
Colleen Yee
Thank you Becky. Is that the front cover or was there more inside? Did the Greymouth Star have an article about the closing?
Becky Pugh
May be an image of text that says 'Hc So Him whom alone cslo'er trust my fear below Ûhecp the the Refrain Lord and sound mercy ofGod birth clear running water cannot are moaning fulfil... He guide When prepare not Peace Do COMMUNION: Ev'ry and and I'm Jesus knee gone ahome Heave Christ W Iwill ह t send Lord dead my Spirit who will One thing Asacrifice Now myh make head raised confess Lord Lord'
Becky Pugh
Colleen Yee
Kate Fairhall
Becky Pugh All these are my favourite hymns and I had two of them for my Mums and Aunty's funerals.
Reply2h
Jeannie Sales
Great that you kept that Becky I will try to dig out the old photos tonight
KateandMike Lilley
My Husband Mike and I were married here on August 1 1981
Jeannie Sales
So many memories and I have some photos of the closing Mass somewhere and I think my sister also has some My cousin Maryann and I were christened there
Terence Pugh
Bless me Father for I have sinned
Jimmy Teen
Terence Pugh haha I bet you kept the old bugger busy
Trish Barry Andrews
Terence Pugh a lot !!!
Peter Ilton
Terence Pugh not enough hrs in the day to listen to all your sins
Barry Wright
Terence Pugh no wonder it falling down Pughy
Maurie McGrath
I believe the parish priest from Kumara Father Jo Lenord was the driving force to convert the old School building into the church.
Greg Mait
Maurie McGrath Is that church the same building that was once the school just down from the Jacksons hotel ?
Terence Pugh
Greg Mait that building is still there Greg ,Rod Buchanan used it as a storage shed for bee hives for years ,the Turiwhate church was moved from Nortons at the Rangiri creek ,as Mauri McGrath just described by Fr Joe Lenoard and the parishoners ,we hav…
Greg Mait
Thanks Terry . I went to school there for a year when my aunt, Sue Manson was the teacher at the time. For some reason I thought it was a little bigger and I remember there was a pot belly in the corner. Only about 7 or 8 students. Used to spend most of the day looking out the window at the waterfalls on the other side of the river lol.
Haley Pugh
I have many memories as a child of the walk down across the creek and through the paddock to mass at the church. It was always a good catch up with everyone in the valley on a Sunday, although as a kid the adults seemed to talk for far too long after mass. I know Mum and Bryan Fitzgerald have spent many hours down there keeping the inside in top shape, and we had a family working bee to give it a real going over a few years ago for a family members wedding too. The outside has been waterproofed as best as we could with what we had to protect the interior
Glenys Anne Byrne
Haley Pugh I have fond memories of celebrating Mass there for your mum's 60th birthday didn't need a bell, your dad gave a perfect rendition of an alter bell, to help celebrate the eucharist. Xx
Reply1hEdited
Jude Alfeld
Lovely spot
Colleen Yee
Becky Pugh - Do you know the history of where the altar rails came from? Also the windows behind the altar?
Becky Pugh
Colleen Yee no sorry, Jeannie Sales may know?
Bob Laing
Heather Newby
I recall the church. I think the property it is on was / still is owned by the Pugh family.
Terence Pugh
some of the priests from my memory ,DK Osullivan ,Dave Carey(how fast can the 610 Wolseley go Lord ? ,Fr Tymon(ole Tickka),Bernie Goulding(Im a priest not a bloody deer culler ) ,Barry Jones (have you been drinking again Terence??)Dan Doyle ,John OConn…
Jeannie Sales
Too right they could have been Tezz Good times for us remember the early morning Mass with the kerosene heater going? And only boys were allowed to be altar servers back in the day and women had to cover our bloody heads with a hat or scarf grrr
KateandMike Lilley
Terence Pugh The stories. The Politics. The Rugby. The laughter. They might not have been perfect, but we would be hard pressed to find a better bunch of Adults to guide us motley lot of kids through life
Robert Keown
Terence Pugh yes farther Terence
Peter Ilton
Terence Pugh start writing, I'll buy a copy, it'll be a laugh a page
Nigel Lordy
The Lord has forgiven
Marie Beams
Lots of wonderful memories at that church.
Aileen Hore
Yes I remember Aunt Shirley telling me about you lived up there
Maggie Boot
Sometimes known as the church of the Good Thief due to the purloined material used to build it Mons Gerry O’Connor called it the church of 50gates
KateandMike Lilley
Maggie Boot so true
PaulAnthony Teens
Ah the memories
Kerry Molloy
What ever happened to the catholic church at Rotomanu. It was on your right just before a bridge as you headed toward Inchbonnie .Remember it well for its lovely interior and the latin masses . My very early altar boy career was in the era of the immortal Monsignor Long ,an ardent vocalist of latin.
Kevin Oregan
Is it still there ?
Heather Newby
Author
Admin
Kevin Oregan Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan
Heather Newby Up Pugh's area - wonder if our List MP is caring for this special place
Colleen Yee
I would love to know where the altar-rails came from?
KateandMike Lilley
My Husband and I were married here 43 years ago.
Phyllis Aberhart
Can you see it from the highway? If so I'll have to havexa look this summer
Bob Laing
Most people would not know where Turiwhate is theses days
Jeannie Sales
It was the centre of our Sunday So many lovely memories and great times with family and friends there
Bruce Whitfield
What's the situation now .. ?
Kathleen Hema
e church which is on land owned by the Tracey family i was at the opening as was all my family who had a lot of input into the rerstruation
John Ryall
Worked on the Church with Fr Joe had we upset with him had to call on Molly and her stockwhip to sort the situation
Kathleen Hema
thr
Kathleen Hema
FR Jo lenora built y
Shelley Harris
I used to live here and would wander past most days and sit inside for some calmness.
The most glorious magical spot in the world
June Williams
My grandad was a saw doctor at the Turiwhate Sawmill. He used to drive the mill truck from Hokitika every day.
Joe Rosen
Funding needed
Rhonda Glasson
Is it possible to go and have a look at it
Christine Banks
The church sits on what was my dad's family land, the Neames'. Peter mentioned Rangiriri, the land being education land, the school is still there near the road and bridge, used as a bach, from 10yrs old, my dad, Terry, attended this school. While his mum was catholic, hence the church, his dad, Walter wasn't, so not all of the seven children, 21yrs between the eldest and youngest, in the family, became Catholics, including my dad, the eldest. Thanks for posting.
Mary Costello
Love This
PaulAnthony Teens
Did the alter boy duty a few times there.
Linda Reedy
Gillian Pugh wasn't it magic it had absolutely everything in it
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West Coast New Zealand History (17th Oct 2024). ALBUM - Turiwhate Church.1954.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 5th Apr 2026 19:08, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/16102