The challenge of revitalising ministry and its supporting buildings is a recurring theme, raising questions about where to direct energy and resources. This issue resonates across many parishes in our diocese.
During a recent personal retreat at St Hilda’s Anglican in Island Bay, I was heartened by their revitalisation journey and flourishing ministry. The church has experienced growth, particularly among young families, and is actively engaged in its local community. The worship service I attended was profoundly meaningful, highlighted by the vicar’s unhurried personal prayers for each communion recipient.
This visit underscored the church's successful balance of structural renewal with vibrant ministry outreach. It serves as an inspiring example amid broader challenges facing many churches.
I trust this story will offer encouragement and insights to others navigating similar paths of renewal and growth.
The challenges faced by parishes in managing earthquake-prone buildings were highlighted in a recent win by St Hilda’s Anglican in Island Bay at the Wellington Architecture Awards.
In receiving the award, Priest in Charge, Rev Mark Henderwood acknowledged the financial constraints and the cooperative spirit that led to the successful transformation of their church:
When our small suburban church with a part-time priest approached First Light Studio to say we’ve got an earthquake-prone building and only $120k in the bank, they agreed to form a team with us… and just look at the result!
For nearly two decades, St Hilda’s Island Bay had been grappling with the burden of earthquake strengthening.
The former unattractive brickwork failed to reflect the vibrant community within and the decision was made to seek a new, transparent façade that resonated with life of the parish.
The successful renovation has allowed the church to become a more integral part of the local community, hosting events like gigs and arts trail activities.
Earthquake prone buildings feature throughout the diocese with 21 buildings identified as falling below the National Building Standard rating of 34%.
The challenges for parishes include, whether to
Currently, several parishes such as All Saints Palmerston North, All Saints Hataitai, St John’s Featherston and St Alban’s Eastbourne worship in spaces other than their traditional worship space.
The move to a new space has caused parishes to ask questions about the mission of the church, how we gather and how we remain community facing. In these places, new expressions of church are found in school halls, community centres and multi-use halls while the old worshipping space lay boarded up.
The experience is similar for those church planting in the diocese.
For St Hilda’s, completing their renovation was long, and required patience and flexibility.
The awards at the Wellington Architecture Awards and also at the 2023 NZ Timber Design Awards are well deserved.
The NZ Timber Design awards recognised their efforts in blending heritage construction with modern timber innovation.
The design’s standout feature, a folded aluminium veil across a 9m window, symbolises navigation and finding direction. It incorporates elements like local landforms, the sea, horizon, clouds, and stars, serving as wayfinding devices pointing upwards towards God and the cross. This increased transparency and luminosity encourage a spiritual upliftment, aligning with the church’s mission.
Mark concluded with a heartfelt reflection on the project’s success: "I’ve not understood like I do now, why so many church foundation stones include the words ‘To the glory of God,’ but I felt we have achieved this description in the design, amongst the community and even at the awards ceremony. Good ol’ God aye?"
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
The challenge of revitalising ministry and its supporting buildings is a recurring theme, raising questions about where to direct energy and resources. This issue resonates across many parishes in our diocese.
During a recent personal retreat at St Hilda’s Anglican in Island Bay, I was heartened by their revitalisation journey and flourishing ministry. The church has experienced growth, particularly among young families, and is actively engaged in its local community. The worship service I attended was profoundly meaningful, highlighted by the vicar’s unhurried personal prayers for each communion recipient.
This visit underscored the church's successful balance of structural renewal with vibrant ministry outreach. It serves as an inspiring example amid broader challenges facing many churches.
I trust this story will offer encouragement and insights to others navigating similar paths of renewal and growth.
The challenges faced by parishes in managing earthquake-prone buildings were highlighted in a recent win by St Hilda’s Anglican in Island Bay at the Wellington Architecture Awards.
In receiving the award, Priest in Charge, Rev Mark Henderwood acknowledged the financial constraints and the cooperative spirit that led to the successful transformation of their church:
When our small suburban church with a part-time priest approached First Light Studio to say we’ve got an earthquake-prone building and only $120k in the bank, they agreed to form a team with us… and just look at the result!
For nearly two decades, St Hilda’s Island Bay had been grappling with the burden of earthquake strengthening.
The former unattractive brickwork failed to reflect the vibrant community within and the decision was made to seek a new, transparent façade that resonated with life of the parish.
The successful renovation has allowed the church to become a more integral part of the local community, hosting events like gigs and arts trail activities.
Earthquake prone buildings feature throughout the diocese with 21 buildings identified as falling below the National Building Standard rating of 34%.
The challenges for parishes include, whether to
Currently, several parishes such as All Saints Palmerston North, All Saints Hataitai, St John’s Featherston and St Alban’s Eastbourne worship in spaces other than their traditional worship space.
The move to a new space has caused parishes to ask questions about the mission of the church, how we gather and how we remain community facing. In these places, new expressions of church are found in school halls, community centres and multi-use halls while the old worshipping space lay boarded up.
The experience is similar for those church planting in the diocese.
For St Hilda’s, completing their renovation was long, and required patience and flexibility.
The awards at the Wellington Architecture Awards and also at the 2023 NZ Timber Design Awards are well deserved.
The NZ Timber Design awards recognised their efforts in blending heritage construction with modern timber innovation.
The design’s standout feature, a folded aluminium veil across a 9m window, symbolises navigation and finding direction. It incorporates elements like local landforms, the sea, horizon, clouds, and stars, serving as wayfinding devices pointing upwards towards God and the cross. This increased transparency and luminosity encourage a spiritual upliftment, aligning with the church’s mission.
Mark concluded with a heartfelt reflection on the project’s success: "I’ve not understood like I do now, why so many church foundation stones include the words ‘To the glory of God,’ but I felt we have achieved this description in the design, amongst the community and even at the awards ceremony. Good ol’ God aye?"
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
