St Andrew’s on the Terrace

St Andrew’s Presbyterian, 28 The Terrace

28-30 The Terrace, Wellington, Wellington
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Image: Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015


CityView GIS 2013
CityView GIS 2013
1922 Proposed section through the new church building. (WCC Archives ref 00055_1_A3)

1922 - Proposed section through the new church building. (WCC Archives ref 00055_1_A3)

Map

  • Constructed

    1922 - 1923

  • Architect(s)

    Clere and Williams

  • Builder(s)

  • This revivalist Renaissance style church is the centrepiece of a diverse cluster of heritage buildings that survived the 1980s and 1990s Terrace redevelopment.

    In the past thirty years, St Andrew’s has become a prominent inner-city church, with successive ministers adopting a liberal stand on social issues. The church itself has been used as a concert and meeting venue.

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  • close History

    • The present St Andrew’s on the Terrace is the fourth version of this church, which has a history that stretches back to the beginning of the European settlement of Wellington.

      Wellington’s Presbyterian community held its first service early in 1840 with the Rev. John MacFarlane officiating. Early services were conducted in a variety of buildings until the first church was built in 1844 on Lambton Quay. It occupied land donated for the purpose by Governor Hobson and was known as the Scotch Church. This church was replaced in 1866 and the original church was dragged over the road to what became the corner of Lambton Quay and Hunter Street. It eventually became part of the Central Hotel and was only demolished in 1939.

      St Andrew’s was the only Presbyterian church to be established in New Zealand before the Church of Scotland was divided by the 1843 ‘Disruption’. By 1853 central Wellington had two Presbyterian congregations; the Established Church congregation met at the Scotch church, while the break-away Free Church met at the Athenaeum and later went on to establish St John’s Presbyterian Church on Willis Street. By the mid 19th century most New Zealand Presbyterians belonged to the Free Church, particularly in the South Island where Dunedin became a Free Church settlement. The church, in Wellington, was reunited in 1874 when St Andrews ‘became a member of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand and took its seat on the Wellington Presbytery.’

      By 1878 such was the improvement in the Wellington economy that St Andrew’s site on Lambton Quay had become a very valuable one. The church sold the land to the newly created Colonial Bank of New Zealand. A new site was chosen on The Terrace, then Wellington Terrace, for the third church. Designed by C.J. Toxward it was completed in 1878 for a cost of £3,987. The contractors were Scoular and Archibald, who built Government Buildings. The total cost of land, a schoolroom, manse, organ and furnishings was £9,000, all covered by the sale of the land on Lambton Quay.

      On 16 August 1922 the church and some of the adjacent buildings burned down. Services had to be held elsewhere but, to enable the congregation to worship in their own building as soon as possible, the hall was built first. The new church followed. It was designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere, of Clere and Williams, and built, not surprisingly, in reinforced concrete. The contractors were Fletcher Construction and the church and hall cost £14,806. It was dedicated on 22 February 1923. The church centenary was held in 1940.

      Some of the building’s exterior decoration suffered over time, mainly from spalling concrete and plaster, and by 1962 was in need of repair. Remedial work was done under the direction of Ian Calder, church elder and partner in Calder, Fowler and Styles. Some interior modifications were also made.

      In the past three decades St Andrew’s has become a prominent inner-city church, with successive ministers adopting a liberal stand on social issues. The church itself has been used as a concert and meeting venue alongside its more traditional role.

      The building was strengthened and refurbished in c.2009 – 2010 and a resource consent application to demolish a small single-storey c.1920s timber building at the north-east of the site was submitted in 2012. This building is reputed to have been part of the old Sunday school rooms, and has been noted on various drawings from c. 1942 onwards as the ‘Guild Room’. The current proposal is to replace this building with a two storey building that would include a ‘Green Room’, WCs and offices.

    • Modifications close
      • 1922
      • 00055:1:A2; 28 The Terrace, alterations to the hall and school rooms to suit the new church buildings
      • 1922
      • 00055:1:A3; 28 The Terrace, church
      • 1948
      • 00056:354:B27236; 28-30 The Terrace, church alterations
      • 1962
      • 00058:243:C10834; 28-30 The Terrace, church alterations
      • 1976
      • 00058:1049:C45655; 28-30 The Terrace, church alterations
      • 1989
      • 00059:640:D11798; 28 The Terrace, church alterations
      • 1990
      • 00059:406:E20838; 28 The Terrace, St Andrews Church - alterations
      • 2007 - 2009
      • SR173377 , aBLDG CONSENT, 2.3 Commercial - St Andrews Church - Earthquake strengthening of nave walls and tower in accordance with NZS1170. Construction of new stage. AKA 28-30 The Terrace.
      • 2010
      • SR203969 , aBLDG CONSENT, 2.3 Commercial - Refurbishment to ground floor hall and first floor, new seminar rooms, heating system and insulation. Upgrade of existing toilets and access. Structural upgrade
      • 2012
      • SR245222 , RC - a Res.Con, 1. Land Use: application to demolish part of the building
      • 2013
      • SR244973 , aBLDG CONSENT, 3.3 - Commercial - Saint Andrews on the Terrace - New administration and meeting room building with new facilities to service the existing church and hall including a lift and accessible stair
    • Occupation History close

      Not assessed

  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      It seems clear that the design of the present St Andrew’s (the second on this site) was influenced by its predecessors, in particular, the timber St Andrew’s designed by C. J. Toxward in 1878. A similar tower element, and columned and pedimented front, is common to both designs, and to the original St Andrew’s on Lambton Quay built in 1866.

      Charles Fearnley points out that the ‘present St Andrew’s strongly resembles some of Sir Christopher Wren’s London churches, particularly in the shape and general massing of the tower.’ This Renaissance effect is the outstanding feature of the church. The tower, for example, progresses in plan from square to octagonal, and from a simple elongated clear-glass window to a louvered octagon capped by a closed octagon. The use of superimposed orders is also a feature of Wren’s London churches, and St Andrew’s copies this. The ground floor consists of a shallow portico with a triangular pediment supported by four groups of paired Doric columns. The pilasters on the first-floor level have Ionic capitals, while those of the engaged columns on the square base of the tower are Corinthian. To match this Renaissance exterior, the interior features a fine coved and coffered ceiling and round chancel arch.

      The church, Classical and rather austere, remains a landmark on the Terrace although the tower is dwarfed by neighbouring high-rise buildings.

    • Materials close

      Reinforced concrete structure, foundations, floors and walls

    • Setting close

      St Andrew’s is the centre-piece of a small cluster of heritage buildings on the Terrace, a street that is otherwise characterised by a predominance of high-rise towers that date from the last 30 years. The group of heritage buildings are of quite diverse styles and ages on the west side of The Terrace, the others including the apartment building Braemar, the New Zealand Medical Association at No. 26 and Kelvin Chambers at 16 The Terrace. It makes an important contribution to this setting, and is enhanced by the presence of the other older buildings.

      The wider setting includes the residential areas of Kelburn to the west, Parliament to the north and the “high city” of The Terrace and Lambton Quay to the south and east.

  • close Cultural Value

    St Andrew’s on the Terrace is Wellington’s foremost examples of a revivalist ‘Renaissance’ style church building, designed by prominent ecclesiastical architects – Clere and Williams.

    The church is the centre-piece of a diverse cluster of heritage buildings that have survived the redevelopment of The Terrace in the 1980s and 1990s. It is a local landmark that stands in strong contrast to its near-neighbours, the high rise buildings that predominate and characterise The Terrace streetscape.

    St Andrew’s was the only Presbyterian congregation that formed in New Zealand before the 1843 ‘Disruption’ that divided the Church of Scotland into the Established Church and the Free Church. St Andrew’s church is the fourth Presbyterian Church associated with the Wellington CBD and the second to be associated with this site on the Terrace. In the past three decades St Andrew’s has become a prominent inner-city church, with successive ministers adopting a liberal stand on social issues. The church itself has been used as a concert and meeting venue, and this use complements its traditional ecclesiastic role.

    • Aesthetic Value close

      • Architectural

        Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

        St Andrew’s on the Terrace is Wellington’s foremost example of a revivalist ‘Renaissance’ style church building, designed by prominent ecclesiastical architects – Clere and Williams.

      • Group

        Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

        The church is the centre-piece of a diverse cluster of heritage buildings that have survived the redevelopment of The Terrace in the 1980s and 1990s.

      • Townscape

        Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

        The church is a local landmark that stands in strong contrast to its near-neighbours, the high rise buildings that predominate and characterise The Terrace streetscape.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

        St Andrew’s was the only Presbyterian congregation that formed in New Zealand before the 1843 ‘Disruption’ that divided the Church of Scotland into the Established Church and the Free Church. St Andrew’s church is the fourth Presbyterian Church associated with the Wellington CBD and the second to be associated with this site on the Terrace. In the past three decades St Andrew’s has become a prominent inner-city church, with successive ministers adopting a liberal stand on social issues. The church itself has been used as a concert and meeting venue, and this use complements its traditional ecclesiastic role.

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

        Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

        Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Social Value close

      • Identity/Sense of place/Continuity

        Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

        St Andrew’s Church is an enduring landmark on The Terrace and makes a strong contribution to the sense of place and continuity of an ever-changing cultural, spiritual and physical landscape.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        St Andrew’s is a well-known church, a popular concert and lecture venue, and local landmark, and is likely to be held in high public esteem.

      • Sentiment/Connection

        Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

        The building has been a place of worship since 1922 and continues to be associated with the key events in the life of members of the congregation including the births, marriages, deaths of individuals, their friends and their family.

      • Symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual

        Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

        St John’s Church has spiritual significance for a large number of people, not just the Presbyterian community, and it continues in active and full use today.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Authentic

        Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

        St Andrew’s retains much of its original built fabric and has been little altered from 1922.

      • Rare

        Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

        St Andrews is rare example of a Wellington church built in a Renaissance revivalist-style.

      • Representative

        Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

        The building is a good example of a large, central city, Presbyterian Church

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      17/ 288.1

    • Legal Description

      Lot 4 DP 2040 Pt DP 4123, Lot 3 DP 1154

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      1/ Historic Place 3571

    • Archaeological Site

      Central City NZAA R27/270

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Not Earthquake Prone

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 12/8/2016 12:05:34 AM