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Story: South Canterbury places

Waimate Basilica

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Waimate Basilica

In the 19th century the Waimate district became home to a relatively high number of Irish Catholics. St Patrick’s Basilica was built in 1908–9 to a design by Francis Petre, replacing a previous church of the same name. In the handsome brick building are three Belgian-cast bells and a fine pipe organ.

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John Wilson, South Canterbury places – Waimate, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11496/waimate-basilica (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 17 August 2015.