Hallelujah! Jackson saves another church
Sir Peter Jackson has come to the rescue of another historic Seatoun church.
Jackson and wife Fran Walsh have bought St Christopher’s Church for $1.06 million in a move that saves the earthquake-prone church and neighbouring hall from potential demolition.
Now, the Miramar Peninsula Community Trust has been established to run the buildings for the community, and will lease the buildings back from the Oscarwinning couple.
It is the second time they have come to the aid of a Seatoun church: Jackson bought the quake threatened Our Lady, Star of the Sea, in 2007, saving it from development.
The couple also bought the site of Bats Theatre in 2011, securing its future.
They made their latest purchase to ensure the buildings would not be lost from the peninsula, trust chairman Richard Stubbs said. ‘‘They just wished to see the church and the hall preserved, rather than bowled for some apartments or similar.’’
The buildings were put up for sale by the Presbyterian Church after St Christopher’s, built in 1932, was yellow-stickered for failing to meet 34 per cent of new building standards. The church has been closed since 2012, though the hall has remained in use.
The community rallied to try to save the buildings for local use, but faced a hefty bill, with the rateable value coming in at $1.35m for the heritage-listed property.
Stubbs said the community would have faced a huge fundraising effort were it not for Jackson and Walsh stepping in.
‘‘They’ve rescued it. They’ve The church is no longer consecrated, but will be made available for events such as weddings, recitals and christenings once earthquake-strengthening work is done. totally relieved us of that obligation, and that means we can get on and run the facilities . . . their involvement here is absolutely pivotal. They’ve done this for the people of the peninsula, and indeed for Wellington.’’
The Presbyterian Church’s Wellington regional moderator, the Rev Clare Lind, said she was pleased the buildings would stay in the community.
‘‘It was our expressed hope that this sale would allow the Seatoun community to retain use of the buildings.’’
Stubbs said the church was no longer consecrated, but would be made available for events such as weddings, recitals and christenings once earthquake-strengthening work was done.
A full engineer’s report would be done to assess what was needed to bring the church up to code, and whether short-term measures could be undertaken to get the building reopened while long-term work was considered.
How repairs would be paid for was yet to be decided and safety would be a priority, he said. ‘‘If it does require a more major undertaking . . . then I’m sure we and the owners of the building will be in discussion about how that might take place.’’
The hall would continue to be used for local events and programmes.
A project to develop a community centre in the suburb had also received council support, he said.
Today the Wellington City Council’s community, sport and recreation committee will consider a raft of grants through its social and recreation fund, with officers recommending $17,500 to help support the establishment of the trust and a community centre.