Historic church set for rebuild
Central Christchurch’s Baptist community is launching a $8.5 million rebuild to replace their 130-year old heritage-listed church that collapsed in the earthquakes.
Until February 2011, the grand brick church sat behind tall pillars on the corner of Oxford Tce and Madras St.
When the rubble was cleared, the land became the first site of the empty chairs earthquake memorial.
The replacement plan for the church now has resource consent.
Minister Chris Chamberlain said they hope to start construction in August and be finished in mid-2017.
The two-storey building will have a 250-seat auditorium for Sunday services, weddings, funerals, and other gatherings. There will also be a chapel, a hall and kitchen, a foyer and meeting areas, a parish office, space for other Christian groups, and a daytime public cafe with indoor/ outdoor seating.
A second stage of the project will add 10 residential units, replacing housing also lost in the quakes.
Existing pre-fab buildings on the property used as temporary offices will be removed, but another building will be kept for use by community groups.
Some of the original pillars will be used to form a feature in front of the building.
The church organ was also rescued and will be restored and reinstated.
The church has a regular congregation of around 150, and without top-down control has been able to make its own decisions about the rebuild, Chamberlain said.
‘‘There’s a certain freedom in that. The converse is that there’s no cash in a big pot at headquarters, so basically it’s up to us.’’
The congregation has $7 million from insurance and savings, and will fundraise to meet the $1.5m shortfall.
Chamberlain said being without a church had been ‘‘very challenging’’ but the rebuild gave them a chance to tailor new premises to their needs.
‘‘The wider community is much more to the fore in the life of the church than perhaps in the past.
‘‘Those days of having a church and hall locked up for six days out of seven are gone. This will be a hub of work, worship and living.’’
The architect is Auckland architecture professor Andrew Barrie. Barrie said the plan was inspired by the concept of a monastery, traditionally a community’s central point.
Chamberlain said incorporating artefacts such as the pillars into the design would be a reminder of the church’s beginnings.
The previous church was built in 1881 and was at one time New Zealand’s biggest Baptist Church.