PIULA THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

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PIULA CHAPEL (ALOFA E LE UMA)

The initiative to build a Chapel for Piula College was raised at the Big Gathering or the District Meeting held at Gagaemalae Satuiatua on the 9-11 November 1911.1 Misi Nili or Missionary Ernest George Neil was the District Superintendent, and Folau Taoa was the Secretary. The request was accepted and was immediately decided that Misi Nili would design and oversee the building project. The purpose for any Church building is clear, for worship and prayers. But this Church building project is unique according to the design. The inscriptions “Wisdom is better than rubies” on the plague, as well as the Church architectural structure that includes 3 classrooms and a Library is significant. It says something about the purpose of the Church building with reference to Piula’s worship life (at the front), education, study and learning (at the rear). The mission of the Church needs graduates well-armed with a wisdom that is sanctified, “o le poto e faapaiaina.”

Matuaofaiva ma le fale-fa o le Aiga Kamuta Metotisi: The Builders.
Misi Nili was formally appointed as designer and master builder of the building project. But there is no evidence (according to the missionary’s family) that he had any formal training in engineering or architect.2 But Misi Nili had just completed building the Mission House at Gagaemalae, as well as the Wesleyan School at Satupaitea, where he demonstrated competent skills in architecture and building.
He may also obtained some help from other missionaries, friends, or German colonial officers to whom he had very good relationships with.3 The builders included the Mission Carpentry Class (from the Wesleyan School at Satupaitea), 30 students of the Century High School at Piula, and 40 students and lectures of
Piula Theological College.

There were also Church members that helped in the construction of the building.4 No wonder why Misi Nili refused to engrave his name on the commemorative plaque when the Church was opened in 1919.5 It was the effort of a team of committed people who persisted for 7 years in the construction of what Wood calls ‘the finest college building in the South Pacific when it was built’.6 The plaque instead attributes the building to the staff and students of the College, and the mission carpentry class. Misi Nili left for Australia in 1918, and the construction work was completed under the supervision of Misi Segifili, Revd. Shinkfield who was then Principal of Piula College.

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