Story: Building stone

Greywacke church, Peel Forest

Greywacke church, Peel Forest

The Church of the Holy Innocents at Mt Peel Station, South Canterbury, is built out of greywacke boulders from the Rangitātā River bed. The facings are of Mt Somers limestone. It was built under the supervision of William Brassington, an experienced Christchurch stonemason. All the boulders were shaped by hand – not an easy job, as greywacke does not split easily.

The church was a gift to the community by J. B. A. Acland, an early runholder. It commemorates three infants who died between 1864 and 1869.

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How to cite this page:

Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, 'Building stone - Types of building stone', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8075/greywacke-church-peel-forest (accessed 27 April 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, published 12 Jun 2006