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Story: Diverse Christian churches

Lutheran church, Ruapuke Island

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Lutheran church, Ruapuke Island

This 1896 watercolour by Elizabeth Hocken shows the church and schoolhouse built by the Lutheran missionary Johann Wohlers on Ruapuke Island, near Stewart Island. Wohlers arrived there in 1844. His first church and house was destroyed by fire in 1850 and rebuilt. He remained in this area until his death in 1885.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: Acc 12,345b

by Elizabeth Mary Hocken

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Diverse Christian churches – Lutheran, Dutch Reformed and Brethren churches, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/31104/lutheran-church-ruapuke-island (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 21 April 2011.