This item comes the the Petersen Collection. George Conrad Petersen (1900-1978) was a distinguished citizen of Palmerston North, a respected member of the legal profession, Honorary Consul for Denmark and a notable N.Z. Historian.

The Historic Turongo Anglican Church was originally built from local timber c.1879 at Moutoa. Being built upon a small hill with somewhat sandy foundation, Turongo fell into decay. This building is said to be the third on the same site. In the 1930s local elders gathered up the sound totara and re-erected this smaller building from the old timber. It was rededicated 5 March 1937 by the Bishop of Aotearoa, assisted by Canon W. G. Williams and Reverends P. H. Leonard, P. Temuera and H. Rangiihu of Hawke's Bay. The church was moved to Poutu Marae near Shannon in 1965.