Acland was active in the Anglican Church, a member of the synod for many years and licensed as a lay reader.
In 1866, he donated land for a church where four children who died in infancy were buried, including two of the Acland children.
Emily Acland laid the foundation stone in December 1868 and the first service was held in the church on 30 May 1869 by his father in law.
The church, which has capacity for 80 people, was consecrated on 12 December 1869.
Its name, the Church of the Holy Innocents, was chosen in reflection of the four infants buried in the location.
The stained glass window in the wall behind the altar was destroyed in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, only months before the church was due to be earthquake strengthened.
John and Rosemary Acland, descendants of JBA Acland who still live at Mount Peel, pulled every splinter of stained glass out of the rubble that they could find.
This will allow a stained-glass artist, Graham Stewart, to restore the window.

In December 2003, the church was registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category II heritage item, with registration number 1976.
Acland was active in the Anglican Church, a member of the synod for many years and licensed as a lay reader. In 1866, he donated land for a church where four children who died in infancy were buried, including two of the Acland children. Emily Acland laid the foundation stone in December 1868 and the first service was held in the church on 30 May 1869 by his father in law. The church, which has capacity for 80 people, was consecrated on 12 December 1869. Its name, the Church of the Holy Innocents, was chosen in reflection of the four infants buried in the location. The stained glass window in the wall behind the altar was destroyed in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, only months before the church was due to be earthquake strengthened. John and Rosemary Acland, descendants of JBA Acland who still live at Mount Peel, pulled every splinter of stained glass out of the rubble that they could find. This will allow a stained-glass artist, Graham Stewart, to restore the window.
In December 2003, the church was registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category II heritage item, with registration number 1976.
John Acland (runholder)