Canterbury’s First Rural Catholic Church Opened – 1871
In 1871, Canterbury’s first Catholic Church was opened on Shands Road, near the intersection with Boundry Road, near Rolleston. The parish of this tiny church (Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament) stretched from The Conway (Kaikoura) to the Rangitata River! (Ashburton) The land was gifted by Patrick Henley and the first Father was named Chervier. …
