Mounted on the western, street-facing wall of the Wellington Hospital Nurses’ Memorial Chapel, Thomas Johnston’s 12-foot statue, entitled ‘Christ in Majesty’, was commissioned at a cost of 1,500 pounds. Cast in a combination of fibreglass and metal chips, the sculpture weighed 500 pounds (227 kg). Mr Johnston was at the time a Senior Lecturer in Art at Palmerston North Teachers’ College, and was well-known for his work, including busts of Admiral Byrd and Sir Walter Nash.

Criticism of the statue surfaced almost immediately in The Evening Post. After two letters to the editor, from ‘Most Upset’ and A.J. Teague, Mr Johnston was invited by the editor to respond and the paper ran a news story on the issue, including photographs. Teague, described as a contributor to the Chapel Fund over the years, ‘viewed with disdain the effigy of Christ attached to the outside front wall of the nurses’ chapel… because to imply that it is a portrayal of Christ is, in my opinion, just ludicrous’. Describing herself as a ‘retired nurse, contributor and helper on collection day’, the other anonymous writer protested ‘at the grotesque monstrosity erected in the name of Christ outside the front of the building where it can be seen by passers-by’. In reply, Mr Johnston indicated that he was not surprised and had deliberately set out to represent a ‘man of spirit, power and dignity rather than the accepted image of Christ’, and that ‘the elongated figure was created to suit the architectural background.’ However, not all who bothered to write to the paper thought the statue ludicrous or grotesque. Nicolette Percy, in a letter published two days after the first article, said: ‘As one who finds most traditional Christian art mawkishly sentimental and vapid, I would like to congratulate Mr T.V. Johnston on his fine sculpture…Unlike most representations of Christ it could never be mistaken for a woman.’

As Annette Stevenson has recorded, ‘Many nurses, both at the time and in the recent past did not like the statue, but the committee members had seen a model of the figure ‘a seated figure of Christ’ before agreeing to go ahead.’ Stevenson further notes that the Nurses' Memorial Chapel at Wellington Hospital was only one of three chapels in New Zealand dedicated to the memory of nurses. Planning began in 1933 and extensive fundraising commenced in 1934 using the profit from a nursing reunion. This was led by the Wellington Hospital Nurses Reunion Association and Nurses Memorial Chapel Fund (est 1934), which was later incorporated as the Wellington Hospital Nurses Reunion and Chapel Association in 1961. Donations of money were received from individuals, patients, bequests, community appeals and house-to-house collections. By 1961 £28,000 had been raised (equivalent to NZD $780,000 in 2024), enough to allow architects to draw up plans and to accept a tender for construction.

In addition to raising funds to construct the chapel many of the fixtures and fittings, such as pews, kneelers, a lectern and font, were also donated. The chapel was opened on 30 October 1965.

A notable feature of the building were the stained-glass windows in the north wall designed by Beverley Shore Bennett and Martin Roestenburg.

The chapel was well-used for services attended by both staff and patients, and as a place for quiet reflection. However the number of religious services declined over the years and in 2000 the chapel became a Nursing Education Centre.

The chapel was demolished in 2004 to make way for redevelopment on the hospital site. The stained-glass windows were removed before demolition and stored until 2010 when 32 were re-installed in the chapel in the new hospital building. The statue, however, was not so fortunate. It was removed in 2000 due to deterioration, never to be seen again.

See also:

• Annette Stevenson, ‘Wellington Hospital Nurses’ Memorial Chapel’ (Palmerston North: Dunmore Press, 2001)

• ‘The Hospital Chapel’, Wellington Hospital Chaplaincy Trust website, 28 Nov 2011