St Barnabas’ Church

15 Maida Vale Road, Roseneath, Wellington
Photo: Charles Collins, 2015
Image: WCC - Charles Collins, 2015
Map

  • Constructed

    1899

  • Architect(s)

    Joshua Charlesworth

  • Builder(s)

    Johnson and Spargle

  • St Barnabas’ Church is a good representative example of a timber Gothic church that has grown and adapted over the past century. It is notable both for its original schoolroom and its later additions - particularly the elegant bell-tower. These were the work of prominent local architects - Joshua Charlesworth and Frederick de Jersey Clere.

    St Barnabas’ Church has a long association with the Anglican Church, as it has been a site of Anglican worship for over 100 years.

    St Barnabas’ is a local landmark in Roseneath and is set on a site with spectacular views across the harbour. Its decorated timber-Gothic exterior, elegant bell-tower and diminutive size set it in curious contrast to the Modernist apartment building and residential houses that are its immediate neighbours.


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  • close History

    • This church was originally built as a church-room within the parochial district of St Mark’s, Dufferin Street. The site, which adjoined the newly opened Roseneath School, was purchased by the Rev. Richard Coffey of St Mark’s in 1898, for £300. The building was designed by Joshua Charlesworth and built by Johnson and Spargle for £288, with an additional £20 spent on furnishings. The building opened debt-free. It was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Wallis, Bishop of Wellington on 19 November 1899.

      Initially the building was used for a Sunday school as well as services but it began to take on more of an appearance of a church early in the new century. In 1907 a tower and bell were added to the building and inside, a pulpit, font and altar cross were installed. An organ fund was begun. The name St Barnabas was given to the church in 1910 and the organ was dedicated in 1911. In 1915 the church became the centre of its own parochial district. It later became a parish in 1946.

      A fire on 19 January 1924 badly damaged the church, but many of the interior fittings and furnishings survived. The insurance payout of £1,555 was used to restore the building. Diocesan architect Frederick de Jersey Clere guided the work, which was done by a Mr Stanford, for £1 less than the insurance return. In addition, concrete buttresses were built on the east side of the building. The church reopened on 24 October 1924. Signs of the fire can be seen on the blackened floorboards near the alter rails.

      In 1938 a new hall was built and in 1944 a choir vestry, porch, an extension to the sanctuary and an alcove for a new organ were completed. The organ was purchased from a bequest and first used in 1948.

      Stained glass windows were gifted to the church by families in 1967, and again in 1974. The church was partially restored with help from the Historic Places Trust in 1988. Rev. Des Britten, former television chef, was a high-profile vicar at the parish in the early 1990s.

      In 2007 St Barnabas underwent a full scale restoration from plans of the architect Ian Bowman. It was funded by past and present parishioners as well as the wider Wellington community.

      St Barnabas’ Church has historic and social value, as a place of Anglican worship and ceremony spanning three centuries. Two of Wellington’s more celebrated architects worked on it – Joshua Charlesworth prepared the original design, and Frederick de Jersey Clere designed the vestry and belfry addition. This gives the building additional historic interest. Architecturally, the building has value as a good example of a small Gothic church, which combined with its geographical and topographical location make it a landmark with considerable townscape value for the suburb of Roseneath.

    • Modifications close
      • c.1899
      • Construction
      • 1907
      • Belfry added
      • 1924
      • Extensive fire damage and repairs
      • 1964
      • Renovations
      • 1986
      • Renovations to the belfry
      • 2007
      • Renovations
    • Occupation History close
      • 1898
      • Anglican Church
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      St Barnabas is a diminutive suburban church that began life as a simple gabled Victorian schoolroom, received Edwardian additions (the bell tower), suffered fire damage in the 1920s, was restored and received small additions and improvements in the 1930s and 1940s as the parochial district became a parish. The church is itself something of a parable illustrating the adaptability of timber construction and the growth of Wellington City.

      The architectural style of St Barnabas is a plain Free Gothic. The pitch of the main gable is moderate and is repeated in the smaller gable of the entrance porch with its two prominent lancet windows. Simple timber buttresses support the side elevations of the church which is clad in rusticated weatherboards with a corrugated-iron roof. The bell tower is a surprisingly elegant addition that springs from the porch gable and crowns the church.

      St Barnabas features a fine timber-panelled interior and an exposed roof-truss system of double Queen posts. Of note is the three-part stained glass window depicting the Ascension that has been installed above the altar on the east side of the church and commemorates St Barnabas’ first vicar.

    • Materials close

      Timber

    • Setting close

      St Barnabas’ Church occupies one of the most distinguished spots on Mount Victoria, if not in all of Wellington - 15 Maida Vale Road, Roseneath. St Barnabas’ is at the top of the rise from Oriental Parade to Roseneath, a steep switchback of a street that rewards the traveller with panoramic views of Wellington City, the Hutt Valley, and across to the Miramar Peninsula and Eastbourne beyond. It is these views that St Barnabas shares, though surrounding building has encroached upon them, most noticeably with the high-rise apartment block built to the south of the church. However, the outlook is still most impressive.

      St Barnabas Church shares its site with two other church buildings, a house and a meeting room. As mentioned, to the south are the Modernist Gateway Apartments; to the north and down the hill is Roseneath School, while residential homes fill in the rest. There is a World War I memorial between the entrance to the school and the church. The buildings and architecture at this junction in Wellington will always be second to the views, but St Barnabas is still a remarkable structure in the area, distinct, quirky, and proud. St Barnabas is a valuable presence to the streetscape, providing visual interest to an area already with an abundance of it.

  • close Cultural Value

    St Barnabas’ Church is a good representative example of a timber Gothic church that has grown and adapted over the past century. It is notable both for its original schoolroom and its later additions - particularly the elegant bell-tower. These were the work of prominent local architects - Joshua Charlesworth and Frederick de Jersey Clere.

    St Barnabas’ Church has a long association with the Anglican Church, as it has been a site of Anglican worship for over 100 years.

    St Barnabas’ is a local landmark in Roseneath and is set on a site with spectacular views across the harbour. Its decorated timber-Gothic exterior, elegant bell-tower and diminutive size set it in curious contrast to the Modernist apartment building and residential houses that are its immediate neighbours.

    • 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 Barnabas’ Church is a good representative example of a timber Gothic church that has grown and adapted over the past 110+ years. It is notable both for its original schoolroom and its later additions - particularly the elegant bell-tower. These were the work of prominent local architects - Joshua Charlesworth and Frederick de Jersey Clere.

      • 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?

        St Barnabas’ is a local landmark in Roseneath and is set on a site with spectacular views across the harbour. Its decorated timber-Gothic exterior, elegant bell-tower and diminutive size set it in curious contrast to the Modernist apartment building and residential houses that are its immediate neighbours.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

        St Barnabas’ Church has a long association with the Anglican Church, as it has been a site of Anglican worship for 110+ years.

    • Scientific Value close

      Not assessed

    • 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?

        The church contributes to a sense of place and continuity of Roseneath.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        That the church was able to part-fund its 2007 renovations through public donations suggests that St Barnabas’ is held in high public esteem.

      • Sentiment Connection

        Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

        Given the amount of ceremonies such as christenings, marriages, and funerals that have taken place at St Barnabas’ over the years, it is safe to say that the church is a focus of community sentiment and connection for many Wellingtonians.

      • 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 Barnabas’ has traditional and spiritual value for the parishioners that have worshipped at and attended the church over their, and the church’s, lifetime.

    • 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?

        The church has a high level of authenticity due to the original fabric it has retained.

      • Local Regional National International

        Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        St Barnabas’ Church is important at a local level.

      • Representative

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

        St Barnabas’ Church is a good example of a small Gothic church.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      12/ 194

    • Legal Description

      Lot 1 DP 6959

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      2/1421

    • Archaeological Site

      Risk unknown

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Unknown

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Visitor Guide to St Barnabas Church, undated (c. 2011)
      • Fearnley, C. Early Wellington Churches. Wellington: Millwood Press, 1977
      • Maclean, Susan. Architect of the Angels: The Churches of Frederick de Jersey Clere. Wellington: Steele Roberts, 2003
      • New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Charlesworth, Joshua – Architect’. From the NZHPT professional biographies. Accessed July 2013
    • Technical Documentation close

      Not available

    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 11/3/2017 1:13:04 AM