Saint David’s Church is a country church located at 591 Matangi Rd, on the outskirts of Hamilton, built in the period of 1932/33. The design is typical of early settler churches in New Zealand. The foundation stone was laid in November 1932 by the first Anglican Bishop Cecil Cherrington of Waikato, who consecrated the church on 5 February 1933, following the completion of construction at a cost of £600.00, debt-free. The architect, Mr. Edgecumbe of Edgecumbe and White, and builders, Messrs Murphy and Short, crafted a church incorporating elements such as the bell and windows sourced from Saint Peter’s, a church built in 1876 at the Southern End of Victoria Street in Hamilton, which was demolished when the present Cathedral was built. Funds for the church were raised over several years, by the local community through fundraising events, social functions, and generous donations of land, furniture, and an altar. Despite being designed for 80 people, additional seating had to be arranged for the opening ceremony. Ministry services operated once per week until petrol rationing in the 1940s led to a reduction to fortnightly.

 

The Taylor family, David and Patience, were early settlers in Matangi in the 1880s, farming a large parcel of land named ‘Fairview’ on Matangi Road by at least 1902. David, who arrived in New Zealand in 1869 from County Tyrone, Ireland, married another Irish immigrant, Patience Levis in Auckland in 1878. Described as 'the oldest settler in the Matangi district, of retiring disposition, they were highly respected. After Patience's passing in 1913 and David's in 1925, they were survived by three sons, five daughters, and over 20 grandchildren, with descendants still living and farming in the area. This legacy includes Saint David's Anglican Church at Matangi. In 1921, David donated a half-acre parcel to the Anglican Church as a site to build the church. A plaque commemorating the Taylor family was unveiled soon after the consecration.

 

Post-war, attendance dwindled, reducing services to once per month. Saint David’s became part of Saint Francis Co-operating Parish in 1976, amalgamating Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian congregations until 9 December 2018. Before the amalgamation, three churches operated in Matangi: the Presbyterian Waikato East Charge and the Methodist church in 1915. In 1918, the Methodist church was shared until the Presbyterian established their own building. The Methodist church closed in 1970 and was demolished in 1975. The Presbyterian church closed in 1963, sold in 1975, and incorporated into the property at 600 Matangi Road. Saint David's Church remains on Matangi Road, a lasting memorial to the Taylors, its benefactors, and vergers. It holds a ‘B’ ranking as a designated Historic Site in the district plan.

 

In late 2018, the community learned that the last service would be held on 8 December 2018. Authority to sell was granted in early 2019, with an agreement to prioritize retaining the church in its current location and appearance. The hope was for the Regional Council and Saint Francis Parish to preserve its history within the Matangi community and its connection to Hamilton. On 15/16 August 2019, during the celebration of the Dormition of the Mother of God and Saints Martyrs Brancoveanu, a new chapter began for Saint David’s under the Orthodox Church, specifically the Parish of Saint George in Hamilton. Over the next four years, renewal, beautification, decoration, and arrangement of the church took place, aligned with Orthodox tradition. The parish priest, along with his family and a few faithful, carried out this work. Reverend Father Ovidiu Motofelea has been the missionary priest serving this parish since its foundation and is currently the Romanian Orthodox Dean of New Zealand. The consecration into the Orthodox faith took place on 3 September 2023, the first Sunday of the New Spiritual Year, 15 years after the establishment of the Saint George Parish, by His Eminence Bishop Mihail Filimon, the first hierarch of the Romanian clergy and faithful in Australia and New Zealand.