St John's Church, Wellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church |
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St John's Presbyterian Church in 2015
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| 41°17′27″S 174°46′24″E / 41.29083°S 174.77333°E | |
| Location | 166–176 Willis Street, Wellington |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 11 December 1885 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Turnbull |
| Style | Gothic architecture |
| Years built | 1885 |
St John's Church is a beautiful and historic building located on Willis Street in Wellington, New Zealand. It is officially recognized as a Category 1 Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand. This means it is a very important building with a rich history that needs to be protected for future generations.
About St John's Church
The church was designed by a well-known architect named Thomas Turnbull. It first opened its doors on December 11, 1885. This new church was built to replace an earlier church that was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1884.
Building Materials and Features
St John's Church was built using strong, local New Zealand timbers. These included kauri, totara, and rimu wood. A builder named James Wilson was in charge of constructing it. When it was first built, the church was quite large. It could hold 540 people in the main area. There was also an upstairs gallery that could seat another 240 people.
A special bell was placed in the church's tall spire. People used to say that if the wind was blowing in the right direction, you could hear the bell ringing all the way at Petone beach!
Changes Over Time
Over the years, some changes and additions were made to the church. In 1904, some alterations were completed. Later, in 1953, a new porch was designed by Malcolm Bennie. This porch was built as a memorial to celebrate the church's 100th anniversary.
The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003. To make sure the building remained safe and strong, it underwent earthquake-strengthening work in 2013. This work helps protect the church from damage during earthquakes.
