Church of the Good Shepherd, Anglican church in Phillipstown, Christchurch, New Zealand
The Church of the Good Shepherd was a brick building in Phillipstown with red walls interrupted by contrasting stone bands, displaying Benjamin Mountfort's Gothic Revival design. The structure was notable for its distinctive red and light color scheme and detailed architectural features from that era.
In September 1881 the vicar Hannibal James Congdon Gilbert, an accountant and a storeman bought the land for £380, selling it to the Church Property Trustees in March 1883 for ten shillings. The church was built in 1885 to Benjamin Mountfort's Gothic Revival design. Mountfort's son Cyril oversaw an extension in 1906–07. Gable damage from the September 2010 earthquake and later vandalism preceded major structural damage on 22 February 2011; the church was demolished that year.
The church was a gathering place where residents came together for worship, marriages, and baptisms throughout its life. It held a central role in the community life of the Phillipstown area and served as a space for religious and social occasions.
The church stood at the corner of Phillips Street and Ferry Road in Phillipstown; the site is now empty ground, so there is nothing left to enter. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority listed the building for demolition in 2011, and it was taken down that year. Look for the heritage record of Category I place number 1855 to trace what stood here.
It was the last brick building designed by Benjamin Mountfort, one of New Zealand's most influential architects, before its destruction. This distinction made it an important example of his architectural work and legacy in the city.
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