St Mary's Vicarage
Building Details
| Name of Building: | St Mary’s Vicarage |
| Location: | 69 Talbot St, Geraldine |
| Date Plaque Unveiled: | May 2023 |
| Current Owners: | M & B Barker |
| Contact Details: | https://www.thevicaragegeraldine.co.nz/ |
| Plaque Sponsor: | SC Historical Society/Timaru Civic Trust |
Plaque Text
Built in 1900 as the vicarage to St Mary’s church, this English Domestic Revival style building was designed by James Turnbull of Timaru. Home to 15 vicars until 2009, it was converted into boutique visitor accommodation in 2019.
Related Links
- Heritage NZ Inventory - Link: https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/2022/St%20Mary's%20Church%20Vicarage
- District Council Heritage - Link: https://www.timaru.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/673969/Historic-Heritage-Assessment-Report-HHI148-Former-St-Mary-s-Anglican-Church-Vicarage-Category-B.pdf
Brief Historical Information:
The first Anglican church built in Geraldine was erected in c.1864. The first vicarage, in Cox Street, was erected in 1875 and a new brick church was built in 1882-83, with the old church becoming the church hall. At the turn of the 20th century attendance at services numbered around 100 and Geraldine parish included the churches located at Woodbury, Peel Forest, Mount Peel and Pleasant Valley.
A new vicarage was erected in 1900, immediately to the north of the church, the old vicarage having been sold. The contract price, including site works and fencing, was almost £940, considerably more than the £625 the vestry had allowed for in June 1899. Rev Staples Hamilton was the first vicar to live in the new vicarage, one of the rooms of which was regularly used to host the Sunday School. The vicarage was sold by the church in c.2017.
Designed in the English Domestic Revival style by James Turnbull (1864-1947) of Timaru. Turnbull gifted the leadlight windows in the house to the church.
Clinch and Lloyd were Temuka builders and contractors.
Restoration and Current Owner Story
The Vicarage had fallen into disrepair since the last resident vicar moved out in 2000. Local couple Michael & Brigitte Barker bought the building in late 2017, aware that it was going to be a challenge to satisfy the modern building code, town planning and heritage requirements. The unexpected reward has been the hugely positive feedback from the people of Geraldine and in June 2021 the restoration was honoured with a Highly Commended Award at the Canterbury Heritage Awards.
