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Leeston, the principal town in the Ellesmere district, had it’s beginnings in the early days of settlement and was named by Frederick James Smith who purchased property there in 1854, after his birth place in Somerset, England.\n\n

A meeting was held in the schoolroom at Leeston in July 1870 to discuss the building of a church. As a result a subscription list was at once opened to raise the funds.\n\n

Samuel Farr was chosen to be the architect for the Church of St John the Evangelist. For two hundred and eighty-seven pounds, the church was complete on a one acre section in the Leeston main street. Samuel Farr’s style was not unlike that of Benjamin Mountfort.\n\n

The lectern, prayer desk, altar and communion rails of kauri with gothic ornamentation may also have been Farr’s design.

St John’s was consecrated in December 1873 by Bishop Harper.

Address:
68 High Street
Leeston
CANTERBURY 7632