Off the Farm - Old Church Oruawharo Topuni Northland New Zealand
I had always wanted to pay this place a visit and finally had the chance a few weeks ago. This little church has quite a history with it and has a strong connection with the history of our own local area. Orauwharo was where the Wesleyan missionary Reverend William Gittos had his original mission during the early years of colonial settlement. He was the son of Benjamin Gittos who fled their home at "Ingleton" at Hokianga, taking his family to Auckland when local Maori began attacked the settlements in Northland. William remained worked as a carpenter in Auckland before going to Melbourne in 1853 He returned to New Zeland in 1855 and was ordained as the Reverend William Gittos. Rev. Gittos held a strong influence in the local communities scattered around the upper reaches of Kaipara Harbour. Thanks to Timepsanner for the correct information. More on the Gittos Family can be found on Timespanner. It's a great blog I love the stories and the history Timespanner has taken time out to research then post on the net. Way to go Timespanner!
Cool photos, and thanks for including info about William Gittos and the Gittos family. Just a small nit-pick, though -- Benjamin Gittos and his family weren't living at Kororareka during their time up north, they were at their home "Ingleton" in the Hokianga. That's where they were evacuated from.
ReplyDeleteSorry, a second point -- William wasn't left behind. He worked for a time as a carpenter in Auckland, went to Melbourne in 1853, and returned to become Rev. William Gittos in 1855.
ReplyDeleteYo Ice!!! Hey thanks heaps!!!! I'll correct the bad history there. Yeah I wondered if I had things a little wrong there I'll correct the post have I'll have to go into your blog and nab the link back to it.
ReplyDeleteTai hoa on that until I have the Gittos tannery story finished -- I'm still working on it! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou'll see it come up when I post it up.
Importantly one of the first churches in the north to convert to the Ratana faith following T W Ratana's Northland tour in 1921.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother was married in this church.. the church back in those days was facing the other way with the entrance facing the water
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