St Paul's Church (Ōkato)

On 11 February 1897 the foundation stone for this Anglican church in Ōkato was laid by Archdeacon Govett of New Plymouth. The church was designed by noted New Plymouth architect Frank Messenger.

It was consecrated on 25 January 1898 by Bishop Cowie of the Diocese of Auckland and Primate of New Zealand.

The site was donated by Mr. Andrew Gray and the adjoining section by Mr W. Greensill for the construction of a vicarage.

Included in the long list of vicars is the late Revd. Sir Paul Reeves who was here for sixteen months before being appointed lecturer at St. John's College, Auckland. He later served as Governor-General.

The Hall/Plunket Rooms at the rear of the church were constructed during 1939 at a cost of £300; the roof structure remains exposed on the interior of the building and appears to be of locally milled kahikatea timber. The hall was extended at a later date in a sympathetic style. 

Further reading: Saint Paul's Okato: Seventy-Fifth Jubilee of the Parochial District (TRCT 283 CLE) and The Centenary of St Paul's Church Ōkato and Ōkato Methodist Church (TRCT993.482 CEN).