page_title: Christ Church, Russell
section_title: 21st century
hierarchical_section_title: Christ Church, Russell / 21st century
caption_attribution_description: Christ Church, Russell
context_page_description: Christ Church is New Zealand's oldest surviving church. Built in 1835 in the village of Russell, the Anglican church originally held services in both English and Māori. It was also occasionally used as the local courthouse. On 30 January 1840, it was the site of Captain William Hobson's proclamation that New Zealand would be ruled through New South Wales and that he would serve as Lieutenant Governor of New Zealand. The cost of its construction was contributed to by Charles Darwin in 1863. The church was visited by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1963. The New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange and the country's Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves visited the church on its 150th anniversary in 1986. After a restoration in 2000, it was made into a tourist attraction.
  The church was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust on 24 November 1983 as registration number 1, with a category I listing.
context_section_description: In 2000 the church was restored and is now also a tourist attraction. While no longer used as a parish church, it remains consecrated, and is a venue for weddings, funerals and other special services. It has been speculated that the church is the oldest building in New Zealand that is still being used for its original intended purpose.
  In 2018 the first Anglican ordination of a New Zealander in an openly gay relationship occurred at Christ Church.
caption: Interior of Christ Church
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