Rose Historic Chapel
Encyclopedia
The Rose Historic Chapel, formerly known as the St Mary's Convent Chapel, is a heritage-listed stone church building located in Colombo Street in Christchurch
, New Zealand. It is registered as a "Historic Place – Category II " by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
. The building was designed in the Gothic Revival style
and erected in 1910.
, John Grimes
(1842–1915), arrived in Christchurch in February 1888. He provided leadership to the Catholic community, and worked towards uniting the class differences, political opinions and different nationalities of the settlers. During his reign, many churches and buildings were constructed, including the Sisters of Mercy
St Mary’s Convent. For his silver jubilee as a bishop, he was invested with several ecclesiastical honours for his contributions.
The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Christchurch in 1894, when under the guidance of Mother Mary Bernard (1810/1811?–1895), St Marys Parish School and Convent was established. The chapel, built in 1910, is the last remaining building of a the St Mary’s Convent, the rest of the complex having been demolished in 1994. The chapel was designed by the brothers Alfred Edgar Luttrell and Edward Sidney Luttrell
; this was their first commission by the Diocese of Christchurch and they became their unofficial diocesan architects, designing many more churches and other buildings.
It was purchased by the Christchurch City Council
, who renovated the building in association with the Rose Chapel Trust and Friends of the Chapel. The chapel was damaged during the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.
as a Category II historic place, with the registration number being 7239. The chapel is significant for its aesthetics (especially the stained glass windows), its architecture (the Luttrell brothers are known for their well designed churches), cultural importance (as a religious teaching place) and spiritual life for the nuns.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. It is registered as a "Historic Place – Category II " by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
. The building was designed in the Gothic Revival style
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
and erected in 1910.
History
The first Bishop of ChristchurchRoman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
The Latin Rite Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington. Its cathedral and see city are located in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand...
, John Grimes
John Grimes (New Zealand bishop)
John Joseph Grimes was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand. He was appointed on 13 May 1887 and died in office on 15 March 1915.-References:...
(1842–1915), arrived in Christchurch in February 1888. He provided leadership to the Catholic community, and worked towards uniting the class differences, political opinions and different nationalities of the settlers. During his reign, many churches and buildings were constructed, including the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
St Mary’s Convent. For his silver jubilee as a bishop, he was invested with several ecclesiastical honours for his contributions.
The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Christchurch in 1894, when under the guidance of Mother Mary Bernard (1810/1811?–1895), St Marys Parish School and Convent was established. The chapel, built in 1910, is the last remaining building of a the St Mary’s Convent, the rest of the complex having been demolished in 1994. The chapel was designed by the brothers Alfred Edgar Luttrell and Edward Sidney Luttrell
Sidney and Alfred Luttrell
Edward Sydney "Sidney" Luttrell and his brother Alfred Edward Luttrell were partners of S. & A. Luttrell, a firm of architects and building contractors noted for its contributions to New Zealand architecture, both in terms of style and technology...
; this was their first commission by the Diocese of Christchurch and they became their unofficial diocesan architects, designing many more churches and other buildings.
It was purchased by the Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
, who renovated the building in association with the Rose Chapel Trust and Friends of the Chapel. The chapel was damaged during the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.
Heritage listing
On 14 July 1995, the chapel was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places TrustNew Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
as a Category II historic place, with the registration number being 7239. The chapel is significant for its aesthetics (especially the stained glass windows), its architecture (the Luttrell brothers are known for their well designed churches), cultural importance (as a religious teaching place) and spiritual life for the nuns.