It was one of those spiritual moments that even hardened atheists would appreciate.
The silhouetted figure of Rev Julie Guest in front of the restored stained glass windows as the sun rises over St Paul’s in Rangiaowhia. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
As the sun rose on Easter Sunday over St Paul’s in Rangiaowhia, parishioners inside the historic church celebrated Service of the Light.
They could see the years of fundraising and sacrifice that went into restoring the stained glass windows at the eastern end of the building.
Rev Julie Guest’s figure became a silhouette as sunlight streamed through the windows onto the altar while she prepared for communion.
Rev Julie Guest rededicates the stained glass windows in St Paul’s Church, Rangiaowhia. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Rev Julie Guest during her sermon in in St Paul’s Church, Rangiaowhia. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
“The man who put these windows in said it made the light dynamic,” Guest told the congregation at the service which also doubled as a rededication for the stained glass altar windows.
The windows have been refurbished at least four times.
Before 2023, the last refurbishment was 30 years ago.
Originally imported in 1855 from Britain by Bishop George Selwyn, they were housed in the Gothic Revival church at Rangiaowhia.
Two of the windows depict St Paul’s encounter with a magician which, according to Heritage New Zealand, may reflect hopes for Christian victory over the perceived ‘supernatural’ traditional beliefs of the church’s then predominantly Māori congregation.
Each window was removed 16 months ago and taken to Christchurch where Stewart Stained Glass meticulously cleaned and restored them.
Getting ready to light the fire, from left Murray Gardiner, Julie Guest and Andrew Guest. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The church is part of the Parish of St John’s which owns two Heritage New Zealand category one buildings – St Paul’s and old St John’s in Te Awamutu. St John’s opened in 1854 and St Paul’s two years later.
Guest is the parish priest while lay minister Christine Bryant is also a handy organist who played the hymns on Easter Sunday with great gusto during the light service.
Corflute replicas had been installed in the windows’ place. Guest said many people could not tell the difference while they were up, but they would have that morning, she said, as she showed them to The News in their storage space and wondered what would happen to them now.
Lighting the candle Rev Julie Guest and Paul Bryant. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The Service of the Light is part of the Easter Vigil which starts – either the night before Easter Sunday or as a sunrise service on the day – and in silence outside the darkened church.
At St Paul’s, Guest’s husband Andrew lit a small fire on the lawn away from the wooden church while Paul Bryant, husband of lay minister Christine, brought the Paschal Candle in to be lit.
In the eastern distance a misty cloud hung over Maunga Maungatautari.
A cloudy mist over Maunga Maungatautari as the fire burns at Rangiaowhia Church
The candle traditionally symbolises Jesus Christ rising from the dead and the congregation each had their own candles which they lit from the larger one and carried into the church filling it with light before sunrise at 6.49am.
“We thank you (God) that they are now fully restored, ready to bring life to your light in this place for decades to come,” said Guest at the rededication part of the service.
Sun rises outside St Paul’s Church, Rangiaowhia on Easter Sunday. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
She also paid tribute to Colin Downes from the parish who with a team rebuilt the arches around the windows so they could be held more securely in place.
Before her sermon she noted how things had changed in a year – then Trust Board chair Alan Empson made one of the readings – he died in May last year.
Rev Keith Storey was there in Easter 2024 too and he died in September with donations in lieu of a memorial service going to the St Paul’s Restoration Fund and the stained glass windows.
His plaque is outside the church with others of the Storey family, including his wife Delysse who died two years before.
After the Service of the Light service, Rev Julie Guest, right, and lay minister Christine Bryant. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Tia Ormsby van Selm from Ngāti Apakura was at the service and afterwards told The News of how Ngāti Apakura and Ngāti Hinetū iwi now wanted to build a wharenui (traditional Māori meeting house) at Rangiaowhia as part of a process of self-determination and cultural revitalisation.
The Anglican Church bought a 4.7ha property next to the church three years ago and transferred the deed to Ngāti Apakura to support the tribe’s vision to make Rangiaowhia a thriving settlement again.
Rangiaowhia was a Māori economic heartland – with a racecourse, courthouse and mills which processed wheat and other produce for the Auckland market – before it was invaded by British troops in 1864 during the New Zealand Land Wars.
All that survived was St Paul’s Church.
After the Service of the Light service, Rev Julie Guest, leaves the church. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
