Catholic Church of the Assumption (130 Church Street)

The first priest appointed for Onehunga in 1847 was a Frenchman, Father Seon. He is reported to have preached from a storage shed by the coast and he partitioned his raupo whare to serve as a confessional. In 1849, he was transferred to Akaroa.

Construction of a permanent church in Onehunga was undertaken in the 1850s. This was replaced by the current building in 1889. The steeply pitched roof was an architectural feature borrowed from Irish churches, where they had to withstand heavy snow falls. The consecration of the new church was marked by a choral performance, including a particularly talented bass singer. However, the man was an unreliable performer due to his tendency to drink, so the priest invited him over the previous night to keep him sober. Monsignor William Mahoney, who took over the parish in 1905, was the first New Zealander to be raised to the priesthood.

Continue along Church Street. Cross the road at the indicated crossing.