Frankleigh Park Sunday School/Mary Chapel (1911)

The Frankleigh Park Settler's Association was formed in August 1911, and one of their first tasks was to organise a Sunday School, in connection with the Whiteley Church, for the local children. A committee was set up to find a plot of land and have a building constructed for the Sunday School; in the meantime, the Sunday School was held in a room at local resident Mrs J. Roch's house. The committee purchased a section opposite the local Frankleigh Park Store, fundraising was undertaken, and the school (located approximately at present day 110 Govett Avenue) was constructed by the local residents - the building was officially opened on 10 December 1911. 

In 1969 the Presbyterian Church purchased the building and continued under their ministry as a Sunday School until 1976. Thereafter, monthly services were held and in February 2002, the 90th anniversary of the church was celebrated. (Worship & Witness: St Andrew's on Liardet, page 19)

The building was shifted from Govett Avenue to its present location at Sacred Heart College in September 2005, subsequently restored, and re-named the Mary Chapel. The chapel was named in honour of teacher Mary Phelan, who before her untimely death, had proposed her family place a chapel in the College grounds. Following her death, Mary's brother, John Spellman, purchased the building, and with contributions from Mary's family, had it shifted to Sacred Heart; it was restored by late Waitara craftsman George Tamati, and opened in April 2006.

Further reading: 125 years: Sacred Heart College (2009). Taranaki Research Centre collection (TRCT373.9 SAC)

Related plan:

Taranaki DP3686 Sheet 1 Govett Ave, ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)