This is a short visit to St John the Baptist - the church building and it's story.

St John's is the oldest remaining Selwyn church on the North Shore in Auckland. It was originally a daughter church in the parish of Devonport, accessed by boat from Little Shoal Bay just down the hill, by our pioneer parishioners. Bishop Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand, dedicated the church on 24 June 1860, the feast day of John the Baptist. St John's has spacious grounds with several old oak trees and parking. The local community makes good use of the well kept facilities. The ashes of several past parishioners are interred in the grounds.

The original Selwyn church was a typical rural model - a rectangular nave with an eastern chancel and western porch. This original old nave is seen in this turn of the last century photo showing the additional higher transepts that were added during the first forty years.

In 1913 further extensions were made to raise the roof line and add space with aisles, plus the now distinctive belfry. While more space was created some of the "Selwyn" character was lost.

In 1990 substantial alterations were made to provide yet more flexible space linking the church with offices, old and new hall areas, and parking. The architect's sympathetic re-working manages an ambiguous melding of "Selwyn" and contemporary styles noticeable particularly in the interior.

Now in 2005 the exterior has been repainted in lighter colours as the original church.