Frederick de Jersey Clere
Frederick de Jersey Clere was born 1856 in Lancashire and died in 1952 in Wellington.
Clere’s teachers were trained in the architecture of 19th century Gothic Revival in Britain when it was fashionable. Gothic Revival architecture was an extension on the Romanesque style of the Middle Ages which emphasized a class separation between royalty and commoners. The theological justification for this was the Tabernacle of Moses with its primary message that common people remain at the back whilst only the priest has access to the holy of holies’ (Exodus 26:34).
When Clere came to Aotearoa he maintained the belief that Gothic Revival was the ideal design for church buildings However, later in life he admitted that a building should functionally meet the needs of the community and reflect the contemporary theology of the church. “I can now see that the future might hold new developments.” He was frequently asked to modify a church. This happened with Khandallah and Ngaio.
Our St Barnabas church was designed in 1921, and dedicated on 12 June, 1922. What that building was to look like bears no resemblance to our current church building. Clere’s design was for a tower, vestibules on each side, an eastern lean-to, and a south-side porch. Clere needed to modify his plan and over the next five years the building suffered leaks and a bulging eastern wall.
Following his death in 1953 significant alterations were made such as adding the chancel, sanctuary, vestry and office below. The south porch was removed so that a chapel could be incorporated into the south transept, the north transept was changed.
In 1959 a controversial and unpopular decision was made to introduce an organ. In the 1960s further changes were made – removing windows in the nave, added hood moulds and replaced timber in the gables, some pews removed and some repaired.
Further changes included:
1977: removing the back pews
2006: removing pews, add chairs and rearrange seating layout
2006: experiment with seating arrangements in the nave
2007: moving the altar, altar rail, the pew frontal and all the pews, and install a projector screen.
Architecture changing
By the mid-20th century architects of church buildings shifted their theological premise to that of the Tabernacle of David where all people were invited to gather around the ark of the covenant which represented the table of God’s presence (2 Samuel 6:17). God spoke through the prophet Amos that He would restore the template of David’s tabernacle (Amos 9:11-12).
St Barnabas and Our Church Building Today
Jesus gathered his friends around the table at the Lord’s Supper and demonstrated that there is no barrier between people and His presence (Eph. 3:18; Heb. 9:11; 10:19-22).
It was Barnabas who convinced the church elders and apostles that all people, Jews and Gentiles, should be given unrestricted access to worship. They agreed and stated, “The words of the prophets are in agreement, to rebuild the ideal of David’s fallen tent that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord .. therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” (Acts 15:16-19). Paul declared that “God does not live in temples built by human hands.” (Acts 17:24-28).
Clere’s teachers were trained in the architecture of 19th century Gothic Revival in Britain when it was fashionable. Gothic Revival architecture was an extension on the Romanesque style of the Middle Ages which emphasized a class separation between royalty and commoners. The theological justification for this was the Tabernacle of Moses with its primary message that common people remain at the back whilst only the priest has access to the holy of holies’ (Exodus 26:34).
When Clere came to Aotearoa he maintained the belief that Gothic Revival was the ideal design for church buildings However, later in life he admitted that a building should functionally meet the needs of the community and reflect the contemporary theology of the church. “I can now see that the future might hold new developments.” He was frequently asked to modify a church. This happened with Khandallah and Ngaio.
Our St Barnabas church was designed in 1921, and dedicated on 12 June, 1922. What that building was to look like bears no resemblance to our current church building. Clere’s design was for a tower, vestibules on each side, an eastern lean-to, and a south-side porch. Clere needed to modify his plan and over the next five years the building suffered leaks and a bulging eastern wall.
Following his death in 1953 significant alterations were made such as adding the chancel, sanctuary, vestry and office below. The south porch was removed so that a chapel could be incorporated into the south transept, the north transept was changed.
In 1959 a controversial and unpopular decision was made to introduce an organ. In the 1960s further changes were made – removing windows in the nave, added hood moulds and replaced timber in the gables, some pews removed and some repaired.
Further changes included:
1977: removing the back pews
2006: removing pews, add chairs and rearrange seating layout
2006: experiment with seating arrangements in the nave
2007: moving the altar, altar rail, the pew frontal and all the pews, and install a projector screen.
Architecture changing
By the mid-20th century architects of church buildings shifted their theological premise to that of the Tabernacle of David where all people were invited to gather around the ark of the covenant which represented the table of God’s presence (2 Samuel 6:17). God spoke through the prophet Amos that He would restore the template of David’s tabernacle (Amos 9:11-12).
St Barnabas and Our Church Building Today
Jesus gathered his friends around the table at the Lord’s Supper and demonstrated that there is no barrier between people and His presence (Eph. 3:18; Heb. 9:11; 10:19-22).
It was Barnabas who convinced the church elders and apostles that all people, Jews and Gentiles, should be given unrestricted access to worship. They agreed and stated, “The words of the prophets are in agreement, to rebuild the ideal of David’s fallen tent that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord .. therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” (Acts 15:16-19). Paul declared that “God does not live in temples built by human hands.” (Acts 17:24-28).
We are thankful for our church building and
how it can serve the larger purpose of extending God’s kingdom in our neighbourhood.
how it can serve the larger purpose of extending God’s kingdom in our neighbourhood.
