The land on which this church stands was given Messrs. C.H. Harding and C.O. Roberts. The men who built it were two brothers Tutanuku Tume and Manihera Tume. They were assisted by Tohe Pakanga.
The symbols and and carvings were the work of Te Kaporere Patuwairua, from Whanganui. The shingle roof was laid by Mr.W.F. Dowman, the only paid hand on the job.
On St. Peter's Day 1906 the church was dedicated by the Archdeacon of Taranaki, Ven. R.H. Cole.
The Māori name of the church is "Tu-ki-te-Arero", a name which links it with an earlier church built at the settlement of Pukemahoe which is only just over 1km away. This original church was accidentally burnt in 1896. Significantly the altar cross in the new church was carved from the base of the centre pole which was retrieved after the blaze.
Further reading: "A Short History of Te-Ki-Te-Arero or St Peter's Church" compiled by Leslie Smith (TRCT283 SMI).
Related documents:
Fundraising concert for St Peter's Church (Taranaki Herald 12 July 1906)
Heritage Study - Stratford District Council (St Peter's Church)
St Peter's Day 1906 - a day of rebirth - page 1 and page 2 (Sunday Express 9 July 1978)
Historic church revamped (Daily News 19 March 1991)
Purangi at peace with its past (Daily News 10 July 2004)
Return of cross part of Purangi centenary (Daily News 3 July 2006)
Tu Ki Te Arero/St Peter's Church History
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