Historic Churches

The Bay of Islands contains some of New Zealand’s most significant colonial ecclesiastical architecture. This collection includes ChristChurch in Russell, the nation's oldest surviving church, and St. James in Kerikeri, known for its hilltop position overlooking the historic Stone Store. These sites mark the early 19th-century arrival of Anglican and Uniting missions, featuring a mix of original timber structures and later stone memorials that preserve the history of early European settlement and Māori interaction.

St. James Church

St. James Anglican Church, in Kerikeri, New Zealand, is a congregation of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa in the Diocese of Auckland,…

ChristChurch

Completed in 1835, this is New Zealand's oldest surviving church. The timber structure still bears musket ball holes from the 1845 Battle of Kororāreka, and its historic graveyard contains the remains of early settlers and sailors.

St Paul's Anglican Church

This stone church, completed in 1925, stands on the site of the original 1823 mission. It serves as a memorial to missionary brothers Henry and William Williams, who were central to the early Anglican mission in Paihia.

Bay of Islands Uniting Church - Russell Church

A community church representing a partnership between the Methodist and Presbyterian denominations in Russell.

Bay of Islands Uniting Church - Paihia Church

A collaborative Methodist and Presbyterian congregation providing services to the Paihia community.