St Bride's sits atop an elevated site; this along with its spire helps it stand out as a landmark.

[4] Anglican worship in the inchoate settlement of Mauku was initially conducted in private homes and later in a slab hut near the site of St Bride's.

Prior to the construction of St Bride's Church — Mauku was visited by George Augustus Selwyn, Robert Maunsell, John Coleridge Patteson, and Arthur Guyon Purchas, who all provided services at different times.

On 22 November 1858 it was decided a permanent church should be constructed and a committee was formed, headed by Dr. Purchas.

Significant contributions were also made by Gore Browne, Bishop Selwyn, Patteson, Reverend Henry Melvill, General Robert Wynyard, and Sir Duncan Cameron.

[7] As was common with churches in small rural settlements in New Zealand, it also served Presbyterians and Methodists.

[6] Following the Invasion of the Waikato in July 1863, many isolated European settlements became worried about potential raids from hostile Māori.

The Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society was set up to provide aid and care for some of the refugees from Mauku[6] and a 10 ft (3.0 m) high stockade[3] was constructed around St Bride's to serve as a military outpost.

A Lieutenant Percival disobeyed orders to remain at the church and set out with a dozen men towards Titi Hill.

[3] After the end of the war the church underwent repairs from damage it had sustained from the military occupation.

The middle window shows Jesus Christ, with the Moravian Church seal shown below.

The right window shows Bishop Selwyn and below it St Bride's Church, Mauku, with the stockade around it.

[6][5]: 13–14 The design of St Bride's Church has been described as simple and elegant by architect Peter Lewis Sheppard.

[4] St Bride's Church is listed as a category 1 historic place with Heritage New Zealand.