St Michaels

Location: Waimea West
Denomination: Anglican
Built: 1843

Known as the first church of Nelson, the church you see before is the congregations third place of worship.

The first of the English settlers arrived in Waimea River in 1842 and by the end of that year there were 100 people living west of the river. The first church service was held in the barn of a local politician, John Kerr. Soon after the St Michaels building was erected on a Sunday December 24th 1843.
In 1866 plans were drawn for a new church building, the building you see in the photos and the older building was to be moved further south to be used for Sunday school services.
The first building however blew down in a storm. The first service in the new building was held in 1867.

A fence was built in 1960 with a beautiful prose that reads.

To the glory of God and to the men and women of faith who founded this church, and to those who have served faithfully to maintain that which was founded.

The Church still meet, worship God and serve its community 180 years later.