Prayers answered on originality
If you’re praying for something original to call home a former church might just be your calling, finds Caroline Botting.
Around the country a number of churches are on the market and many will be transformed into new homes. But just how hard is it to convert a place of worship into your private paradise? The owners of three converted churches tell us what it’s like to live in these divine spaces and reveal their stories of resurrection and restoration.
A Nelson reincarnation
A desire to escape the Auckland rat race led Nelson’s Steve Galpin and Tor Muriwai to their former weatherboard Methodist church. Built in 1904, it had been converted into a cafe, and at the rear there was a two-storey, three-bedroom home, formerly the Sunday School hall. The pair filled the space with their treasures, but have recently moved on – it was just too big.
Weknew and loved the church: ‘‘Before it came onto the market as it was a cafe we enjoyed. I always thought it would make a fantastic home. We love the spaces and feeling of old churches and always stop to walk around them when we are travelling.’’
Wewere lucky: ‘‘In that the church and hall had been converted before we bought it. A couple spent 10 years of dedicated work on the conversion. A 60-page title, including council and heritage requirements, is testament to their dedication.’’
To keep warm: ‘‘We installed a floor level heat pump in the main space which, combined with excellent insulation and some under floor heating in the converted hall, kept everything warm over winter.’’ Wewould definitely live in a church again:
‘‘But on a smaller scale. I love the shapes of the windows and the spaces. There is a special feel to them not easy to find in a domestic building. Conversion of any historic building that saves it from decay and loss is very worthwhile.’’
A miraculous Dunedin conversion
Jaimee and Ryan Whiston had to keep the faith when making the decision to convert a huge Dunedin church into a home, but the pair performed miracles on the massive renovation creating a home for their young family in the city’s seaside suburb of St Clair. Achurch conversion: ‘‘Was never on our radar. I drove past it one day and saw it for sale, and just had an overwhelming urge to go and look. Once we walked inside and saw the stunning windows we were sold.’’
The size of the place: ‘‘Was the most challenging. From a renovation point of view everything was way more expensive. Over the years we have just chipped away, and its given us time to think about where we wanted things to go. We love a big home. Because our living, kitchen and lounge is open, the kids never go to their rooms to play, there is plenty of space to do your own thing, but still be all together. We always love a good party and the house certainly becomes a venue.
Wewouldn’t: ‘‘Do another church conversion, but when I see churches come on the market I get the
‘‘It is essentially a four-bedroom house with a giant hall that is perfect for family gatherings and parties.’’ Clemency Boyce and Greg Donson