Then...

We continue in the spirit of those who have gone before.

The Anglican Church in the Wakatipu was established in 1863 by the first settler, William Rees assisted by Richmond Beetham, Resident Magistrate leading a small group of dedicated lay people. They were encouraged by a visit from Bishop Harper of Christchurch in March 1863 in the early days of the gold rush.

A wooden Church was built in August 1863 and regular services led by lay ministers commenced. In 1869 the first Vicar, the Rev Richard Coffee was appointed and at that time the present Parish centre was built as a Vicarage.

At Arrowtown the Anglican community had similarly organised themselves and the present St. Paul's Church was built in 1871. The two communities joined to form a Parish, and except for a brief period have remained as such.

As the parish developed, a Sunday School Hall was built in 1906 and St. Peter's Church which had been extended considerably was replaced by the present stone Church in 1932. The old St. Peter's was gifted to Omakau where it is still in use. A new vicarage was built in 1964. In 1906, the tracker-action pipe organ, dated 1874, was purchased from All Saints Church, Dunedin. Of the many beautiful pieces of furniture in the two churches, the most outstanding is the St. Peter's lectern, carved in 1874 by a gentleman named Ah Tong.

and now...

2007 saw the refurbishment and rededication of the Parish Hall and Vicarage, relocated from their original sites and combined to make a fantastic new facility for the advantage of the entire Wakatipu Community.

Our Parish Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for the grandeur and splendour of the mountains, lakes and rivers that surround us. Grant us wisdom to value our inheritance, to recognise our responsibilities to them, and all that we have been given by you.

Bless all who worship at the churches of St Peter and St Paul, give us the grace to look beyond our walls to the community we serve. let us be a witness to that community by working together in harmony with respect for one another, showing the virtues of compassion, mercy and justice, expressing love and forgiveness.

May we be diverse in our outlook, welcoming and offering hospitality to all visitors, even those who worship and claim God in ways different from our own.

As a community of of believers, grant to us the strength of St Peter, the vision and commitment of St Paul as we go daily about our own ministries. May we grow in grace so that by working together we may be a light to the world and living proof that our Churches are truly One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Amen.