Our Lady Star of the Sea (Ōpunake)

This Catholic Church in Whitcombe Road, Ōpunake was blessed and opened by Archbishop McKeefry on Sunday, 2 May 1965.

The first Catholic church in Ōpunake was erected in 1894 on Domett Street. Tenders were called for in May and it was announced on 5 June (Taranaki Herald) that Carroll and Artindale (Ngaere) had been successful with a price of £287. This building was used as a community hall after 1925 when the new church was built on Whitcombe Road. It was finally demolished about 1959 and a new house built on the site - now 36 Domett Street. 

On 7 October 1903 the first Catholic Presbytery and a new convent were opened by Archbishop Redwood in Whitcombe Road. 

In November 1924 plans were prepared by Frederick de Jersey Clere for a new Catholic Church with seating for 350 to 400 people. The building was to cost £4,000 and was built of reinforced concrete with a roof of Welsh slates. The builder was Mr. G. Robertson of Rahotu. The new church was opened by His Grace Archbishop O'Shea on Sunday, 19 July 1925.

Unfortunately, this church was to have a relatively short life due to unsound construction methods. Major cracks appeared and damage was accelerated by a weakness in the roof design. In 1964 it was demolished.

The present church was built on the same site.

Further reading:

Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish and St. Joseph's Convent School, Opunake (75th Jubilee), 1975. (TRCT282 OUR)

The First 100 Years: Catholic Faith on the Taranaki Coast (Jubilee Booklet), 1999. (TRCT282.93488 FIR)