NOTED DESIGNER OF CHURCHES DIES

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32902, 28 April 1972, Page 10

NOTED DESIGNER OF CHURCHES DIES

Mr Roy Lovell-Smith, who died in Christchurch this week, aged 87, was an architect who designed many churches in Canterbury and on the West Coast. He was bom in Russley Road, Upper Riccarton, in 1884, and was articled to Mr A. H. Hart, a registered architect of considerable standing.

Mr Lovell-Smith qualified as a registered architect in 1905 and, at 21, was the youngest architect at that time to become an associate of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. He was later admitted as a fellow of the institute.

Mr Lovell-Smith began in private practice the same year and continued to practice for 25 years. Some of the churches he designed were St Ninian’s, Puriri Street, Christchurch; Knox Church, Waimate; Kaituna Church, Kaituna Valley; the chapel at the Te Wai Pounamu College; the Methodist Church, Harewood Road; the Highfield Church,

Timaru, and the Hokitika Presbyterian Church. About 1930, Mr LovellSmith joined the Valuation Department in Christchurch and was district property supervisor for the State Advances Corporation in Christchurch from 1937 until his retirement in 1939.

He was retained by Skellerup Industries, Ltd, as architectural consultant for that group’s companies from his retirement until a few years ago. Mr Lovell-Smith’s main recreation was chess, and he joined the Canterbury Chess Club when he was 16. He was made a life member of the club and was an active player until recent years. He was noted for his tutoring and encouragement of young members.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and daughter.