My Account
When the McGechie family of Mahurangi Heads needed a ship to transport firewood to the Auckland market, Sea Belle was built, in time to compete, and win, the race for cutters at the New Year’s Day Mahurangi Regatta 1864.
Timber unsuitable for the ship’s planking was floated across the bay and used to build the Presbyterian church on land donated by William Grant, near the island that bears his name.
Mr Grant was also the builder and with voluntary help the church was ready to be dedicated on March 13, 1864.
One of the worshippers in the little building was Sir George Grey, then Governor of New Zealand. He would cross from Kawau to Mullet Pt and walk to Mahurangi Heads in time for the 3pm service.
For safety reasons, the bell which was donated by Mr Grant and rung by him during his lifetime, was lowered from its place in the belfry. In 1949 it was incorporated into a brick memorial in remembrance of the farmers, shipwrights, hotelkeepers and fishermen who settled the area long ago. The bell was later donated to the Warkworth and Districts Museum.
After more than 120 years of service the church was damaged beyond repair by cyclone Bola and is now just a memory. The cemetery holds gravestones from many families including William Grant buried there in 1913 aged 98 years. The first burial was thought to be in March 1876 when a young Fijian named Josiah died of a brain disease. He had been employed by Thomas Scott in the ship building yard and was said to be a good worker and well liked.
