In a historic moment, thousands of people gathered this weekend across four services to take part in the consecration and inauguration of St Patrick’s, our new chapel, which will serve as Dilworth’s spiritual heart.
The ceremonies began on Friday (January 30) with the consecration service. The processional party: The Right Reverend Ross Bay - Bishop of Auckland, The Right Reverend Te Kitohi Pikaahu - Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau, The Venerable Carole Hughes, Archdeacon of Auckland Central, The Venerable Mark Barnard, Archdeacon of Te Tai Tokerau, The Reverend Keri-Ann Hokianga, Chaplain Dilworth, The Reverend Gregory Worboys, Assistant Chaplain Dilworth, Mr. Wiremu Kingi, The Reverend Earle Howe; Dilworth Trustees, Headmaster Dan Reddiex and Dilworth’s prefects—started at the site of Old St Patrick’s.
Led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and our very own Maureen Soi, the group proceeded down the path to the new chapel.
In a symbolic handover, Bishop Ross Bay and Bishop Kito knocked on the doors of the new chapel, which were opened by members of the Dilworth Old Boys’ Association (DOBA), who welcomed the processional party. This symbolic walk was filmed by JX Live, working with our young Dilworth Tech Team, and livestreamed to the congregation waiting inside the chapel.
The decree of consecration was read by Venerable Carole Hughes, Archdeacon for the Central Region and Vicar General and handed to Dilworth Board Chair, Jonathan Mason, for signing.
Sunday’s services focused on Dilworth Old Boys, Alumni staff, current students, and their whānau, ensuring everyone had an opportunity to take part in this meaningful event.
There were many highlights throughout the weekend, including the presence of Ngāti Whātua and our Deputy Mayor, Desley Simpson, which emphasised the importance of this new chapel to Auckland. It also symbolised the coming together of past and present, with Old Boys, current students, and whānau.
But a particularly poignant moment was when Old Boy Reverend Earle Howe, Dilworth Old Boy (Class of 1960), addressed the congregation at Friday’s service. Carrying his (now) battered leather case – the very case he had when he first started at Dilworth - he spoke about the history of Dilworth’s worship life and beautifully bridged the past to the present era.
Music was, of course, a feature of every service, with the new chapel designed for both acoustics and atmosphere. Dr Philip Smith, Dilworth’s organist, played the superb new organ with skill and passion and in a moment of musical reflection, our premier choir, Fortissimo, delighted the congregation by performing Tapu/Whakapaingia—a Mass in Te Reo Māori composed by alumnus Takerei Komene (Class of 2017) during the consecration and Old Boys’ services.
St Patrick’s: Our Place
Our beautiful new Chapel now stands as a place of worship and unity not only for students, Old Boys, staff, and whānau of today, but also for future generations.
It offers not only a place for worship but also a space for our junior and senior students to come together as one school, and with its excellent acoustics and wide stage, it will also accommodate our choirs, orchestras, and drama performances.
The creation of St Patrick’s marks a transition into the light for Dilworth. It represents a new era where Dilworth can not only live out the purpose that founders James and Isabella Dilworth imagined, but also take its place as a vibrant contributor to Aotearoa New Zealand today.
With Thanks
Dilworth is deeply grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make our Chapel a reality and to the Dilworth Trust Board for supporting this journey.
Dilworth Project Leadership – Dan Reddiex, Peter Alexander,
Ewen Anderson, Reverend Gregory Worboys
Dilworth Project Management – Ashley Nankervis
Architectural Design – Jasmax
Lead Consultant – Rubix
Wider Consultant team
RCP – Engineer to Contract
Barnes Beagley Doherr – Principal Quantity Surveyor
Holmes – Structural Engineers
EQ Struct – Structural Façade
Cosgroves (now Stantec) – Services Design
Meinhardt Group – Acoustic Engineers
Magness Sound – Sound Engineers
Construction
Cassidy Construction – Responsible for the Base Build
WWC Civil – Responsible for all Civil works
Greenscene – Responsible for the Landscape Design and Construction
Organ – Keyboard Music Systems
Pipework – Anderson Organs
Artwork – Jon Chapman-Smith & Fuman
Cultural Consultation
The Right Reverend Te Kitohi Pikaahu - Bishop of Te Tai Tokerau
Dilworth Whānau Rūnanga
Dilworth Pasifika Advisory Group
John Tapene (Class of 1972)
JX Live
Our special thanks go to Jeremy Bennett and the team at Jasmax, and to Jon Chapman-Smith (Class of 1995) and the team at Fuman, whose dedication to enlivening the Christian faith through art and architecture has been significant.
