Jacobs River, New Zealand

Jacobs River is a locality in the West Coast region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated just to the north of where State Highway 6 crosses the Jacobs River. Bruce Bay is about 7 kilometres (4 mi) to the south-west, and Fox Glacier is almost 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the north-east, by road.[1][2]

For the river situated north of the locality, see Jacobs River (New Zealand).
For other uses, see Jacobs River.

Jacobs River
Settlement
Our Lady of the River church, Jacobs River, in 2011. The church was destroyed by Cyclone Fehi in 2018.
Jacobs River
Coordinates: 43°34′18″S 169°40′47″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictWestland District
ElectoratesWest Coast-Tasman
Te Tai Tonga
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
7886
Area code(s)03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Church

A small Anglican church, known as St Peter's Church, was built by Bert Weenick and Harry Bush at Jacobs River in 1931, on land donated by local farmer Bob Ritchie.[3][4][5] The church was opened on the morning of 13 December 1931, following by a picnic lunch, and the first service with a congregation of 62 worshippers took place that afternoon.[6] It was later taken over by the Roman Catholic church when the Anglican congregation in the area declined, and renamed Our Lady of the River.

During Cyclone Fehi in early 2018, the church was blown off its foundations and destroyed.[5] Two years later, on 1 February 2020, a memorial on the site was blessed by Anglican and Catholic bishops of Christchurch, Peter Carrell and Paul Martin, and the Māori Anglican bishop of Te Waipounamu, Richard Wallace. The memorial includes a carved stone installation by Fayne Robinson.[7]

Education

The nearest school is in Fox Glacier, following the closure of Jacobs River School on 27 January 2013.[8] The school buildings and land were subsequently purchased by Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio.[9]

References
  1. Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 76. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 172. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. Donovan, Don (2002). Country Churches of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland. p. 119. ISBN 1869660153.
  4. "South Westland notes". Hokitika Guardian. 31 October 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. Sherman, Janna (5 February 2018). "Loss of church a 'devastating blow'". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  6. "Bruce Bay notes". Hokitika Guardian. 16 December 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  7. "One place, two faiths, three bishops". West Coast Messenger. 5 February 2020. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. Mussen, Deidre (20 December 2012). "Class dismissed for last time at tiny school". The Press. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  9. "Jacobs River School reunion". Te Pānui Rūnaka. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
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