Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo

A small stone church situated in a stunning landscape. This is probably the best description for the Church of the Good Shepherd situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo. Built in 1935, it was the first church in the MacKenzie basin and one of several built to commemorate the early settlers in the area.

Most of the church is still in its original state. The boulders used in its construction came from the surrounding area and they were carefully chosen for their size, shape and colour. As requested by its donors, the tussock and rocks around the church were left in their natural state and even the adjoining land was gifted to ensure the church remained in this natural splendour.

(click above for larger photo)
Church of the Good Shepherd
Lake Tekapo, Aug 2006
Sited on elevated ground, the church overlooks Lake Tekapo and offers a magnificent view of the surrounding Southern Alps mountain range. I have been at Lake Tekapo several times and this recent visit allowed me to experience its winter splendour.

Do remember to have a look inside the church. What draws visitors’ attention is the altar window that frames the stunning views of the lake and mountains. It took me 3 photos to capture this view of the altar window:

(click above for larger photo)
Altar window frames the stunning view!
Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, Aug 2006

The Church of the Good Shepherd is one of the most photographed in New Zealand. I can attest to this with the many photos of this beautiful place in my collection. The photo on my first post shows the silhouette of the church against a spectacular background of blue skies and snow-covered mountain range.