Marsden Cross Cache (Northland) Traditional Cache

Marsden Cross

This is site of the first Christian service in New Zealand which was held on Christmas Day 1814 by Rev Samuel Marsden at Te Puna in the Bay of Islands. There is a monument known as “The Marsden Cross”. It commemorates the site of the first mission settlement and the first Christian service conducted in New Zealand by the Rev. Samuel Marsden. The service was held on Christmas Day, 1814, in an open space by the beach and attended by Maoris and Europeans. Rough planks and an upturned boat served for seats, and a temporary altar and reading desk were draped with black native cloth and European white duck. Some three weeks later, on the second Sunday in 1815, another service was held, this time in a building sufficiently advanced in construction at the Mission Station to be used as a church. This was probably the first church building in New Zealand.

This is a Kiwi Zone. No dogs please.