Gloriavale – Coming Soon Gloriavale A Woman's Place

Dove Love performs the original song she composed for her husband, Watchful Steadfast.

Introducing Dove and Watchful's first-born son, Thoughtful.

Music teacher Angel Benjamin showcases her singing talent.

From the Archives: The Gloriavale Christian Community hasnt always been on the West Coast. As this retro Country Calendar item shows, they were originally based near Rangiora in North Canterbury. When this item was filmed there were only 134 residents and while the population has quadrupled since then some things havent changed Theyve always been into self-sufficiency, making their own bread, and doing almost everything themselves.

Singing is an important part of life in the community. Kids are encouraged to sing as soon as they can talk, and many young people sing as they go about their everyday chores. In this clip theyre performing a new song, Jordans Banks, recently composed by three men from the community.

Noah Hopeful is the lead cabinet maker at Gloriavale. When Steady passes away the job falls to him and his assistant, Judah, to come up with a simple design for a coffin. Made from MDF, the parts are assembled with glue and brads, before being painted in spray shop.

New babies at Gloriavale get a check-up for any physical abnormalities or development problems. Harmony, the midwife, likes to include the parents in this process by explaining what shes looking for, and this gives them a chance to better understand their babys natural reflexes.

The bi-annual concert at Gloriavale is big event. They put it on over a month to entertain the local Greymouth community. Admission is free and includes a four course meal. In additional to re-enacting bible stories and musical items, there are plenty of items to entertain the children, many featuring animal characters. The moose costume was an ambitious project and used skills of the whole community!

The residents at Gloriavale pride themselves on their resourcefulness and skills base. If they need a new oven or huge dishwasher in the communal kitchen, the workshop team will design and build it for the purpose. They run several successful businesses and, following principles outlined in the bible, have a policy never to borrow money. If they can't afford something, they save for it.

Paul and his sister Jordan are the eldest of the Valor family. Paul's mother Purity is looking forward to the birth of her twelfth child, due in March. At Gloriavale families are close, with the oldest kids helping with care of the little ones.