St Stephens Judges Bay

In 1856, Frederick Thatcher, chief developer of the “Selwyn style”, designed a tiny chapel in the form of a Greek cross, with a belfry over the crossing, to replace a previous stone church of 1844 which had collapsed less than a year after construction.

With vertical board cladding, a steep-pitched roof and exposed structure the chapel has many features of the mature “Selwyn style”. The building has historic interest as the scene of the 1857 signing of the Constitution of the Anglican Church in New Zealand.

The churchyard, with historic graves, give the charming building a restful setting. St Stephens is no 22 on the Heritage List

Image Credit: Auckland City Libraries 1-W563 Henry Winkelmann