St Luke's Church (Bell Block)

The first Anglican church in Bell Block was opened on 2 November 1857. A small wooden building, the "Hua Village Church", was erected for less than £200. It had one stained glass window facing east and was capable of seating 70 people.

This church was replaced in 1902 by the more substantial building above. The church was designed by noted New Plymouth architect, Frank Messenger, and built by Boon Bros. In August 1901 Messenger called for tenders for the building and later that month met with the Bell Block Church building committee to review the submissions. Boon Bros. tender of £299 was accepted.

The foundation stone for this new church was laid by Archdeacon Govett on 26 September 1901. St Luke's Church was officially opened on 19 January 1902 in front of a large congregation.

In February 1976 the church was moved to Barry and Alison Rumball's farm on Umutekai Road.

St Luke's Church cemetery is administered by the Bell Block and Lepperton Co-operating Parish on behalf of the Taranaki Anglican Trust Board. 

Related documents:

Wooden mallet used for laying foundation stone (Taranaki Herald 25 September 1901)

Heroes Honoured: Memorial at Bell Block (Taranaki Daily News 6 August 1920)

Meeting to discuss future of St Luke's Church (Daily News 23 March 1973)

Church moving (Taranaki Herald 28 February 1976)

Historic cemetery in sad disrepair (Daily News 3 August 1985)

Weed choked link to founding fathers (Taranaki Herald 23 May 1987)

Home sweet home (Daily News 5 December 2003)