All Souls

All Souls Anglican Church

49 North Road
Trail marker #6

Clevedon Village is home to a Selwyn Church; one of about 20 in the Auckland area. Selwyn Churches hold significant historical and cultural value, serving as reminders of the early days of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and the impact of key figures like Bishop Selwyn, who played a pivotal role in establishing the Anglican Church in New Zealand. They are notable for their unique architectural style, representing a blend of English Gothic ideals with New Zealand’s unique building materials and conditions, often featuring exposed timber frames and distinctive roofing.

All Souls Church is set on a slight rise in the village of Clevedon on two acres of land donated by Joseph Thorp, known as ‘Rata Tree Point’.

The land was cleared and kauri timber was painstakingly dragged down from the bush by Joshua Thorp’s sons. It was built by Archibald Cochrane and his son, who had arrived in Wairoa soon after the Thorps in 1854. Dedicated by Bishop Selwyn on 29 December 1861, just three years after the original Presbyterian Church, it was first known as the Wairoa Episcopalian Church.

The two Norfolk pine trees which still stand in the churchyard were, by tradition, planted by Bishop Selwyn.

Joshua Thorp and his wife Sarah both died within 7 months of the Church’s dedication, leaving behind 11 children. Their son Hampton had been appointed churchwarden – a role that he continued for the remainder of his life. The gravestones of the Thorp family lie at the east end of the Church.

  • The church is built of heart kauri, and has the typical vertical weatherboarding with battens and once had a shingle roof (comprising some 2200 handcut shingles).

    The church bell has an interesting history, being first a ship’s bell, and much older than the church itself. It was used on the jetty by the river, and when the cutter came up the river with stores, the bell was rung to summon passengers, and the villagers came down with pack-horses to collect provisions. The bell was acquired by the church in 1866, for 12.10s pound sterling.

    There is still some of the original hand-rolled glass in the square-top casement windows; you can notice the uneven rolled effect. The stained-glass in the sanctuary was all made at White Friars, London.

    The altar was given to the church in 1922 as a memorial to W. Hampton Thorp and his sister Charlotte Thorp.

    Curious to learn more? Click here to download the Anglican Parish of Clevedon’s history brochure.

  • Can you locate the headstone of All Souls’ oldest grave? Placed in 1861 the headstone remembers 9-month old John Scott Wallis.

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Location Map

You are currently at Heritage Trail Location #6, All Souls

Ready to see the next site? Follow the path highlighted on the adjacent map or follow the directions below to reach your next location:



Galloway Redoubt (approx 100m)

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    Galloway Redoubt (approx 100m)

    Return to the driveway and walk back towards North Road. The next sitemarker is on the fenceline on the left.

The information for each site has been thoughtfully prepared in collaboration with the Clevedon Districts Historical Society, drawing on Voices of Belonging by Jessie Munro, Yesteryears by F. Murray, and records from the McNicol Homestead Museum. Together, they tell the story of Clevedon and the people and places that made it the community we know today.

A special acknowledgement to photographer Donna Jepsen for her work capturing these sites as they appear today.