Architecture
Lyttelton builders: Hollis & Brown built this large square double bay villa in 1896 on a site adjoining the former St Saviours Church for £620. The architect was Mr. C. Cuff. It displays the traditional symmetrical exterior that is original and fully intact with its original veranda, three upstairs sash windows, a large solid front door with sidelight windows in the porch way, which has double bay windows on either side of it.
Legal history
Originally the site was part of a large block of Church land.
The house was financed in 1896 by the sale of its neighbouring Church land that had been set-aside as a cemetery; below what is now Cressy Terrace; this land on the corner of, what was then, Old Governors Bay Rd and Brittan Terrace had not been used for the designated purpose of a cemetery as the Anglican Cemetery was situated above Ripon Street. West Lyttelton was still know as Dampiers Bay in those days and was the more gentrified side of Lyttelton.
Occupiers
The first resident of the house was Rev. E. Eliot Chambers (1850-1921) who was appointed curate of Dampier’s Bay in 1885. Son of Rev. J. Chambers (Vicar of Cary, Cornwall, England.) He had risen in rank to a lieutenant in the Royal Navy until he retired in 1870 to take Holy Orders.
Rev. Chambers was chaplain to the South Island Artillery, Seaman at Port Lyttelton and the Canterbury Orphanage (which was nearby on Brittan Terrace until it burnt down in 1904); he was also acting chaplain to the Royal Navy. In 1912 Purau was added to the Curé and from 1912 Rev Chambers ministered to Anglicans in the pa at Rapaki. He was a noted Naval historian and Freemason. Rev. Chambers remained here as Vicar until his death at 70 years of age in 1921. The East Window of St Saviours is his memorial.
Rev. J.M.Curnow was incumbent 1921-1930, followed by Rev. H.C. Sell, Rev. N.S. Kelly.
In 1964 the two Lyttelton parishes united again so the Vicarage was sold.
It was repurchased again in 1974 to establish a Christian Community.
By 1975 it was recognised that Lyttelton could no longer justify two Anglican Churches so St Saviours Church was gifted to the Cathedral Grammar School for its Chapel. It must have been an unusual sight, the church being transported over the Port Hills. The church has been well looked after on its new site, the organ was returned to Lyttelton and is in our museum: the school uses a larger one, which came from Hanmer.
The Vicarage (2 Brittan Terrace) was sold again and its proceeds were used to build the St Saviours pensioners cottages on its adjoining site where the church once stood.
The current owners are K. McRae and B. Russell who have done much to enhance this historic house.
