Auckland WWI memorial church up for sale

A church charity is calling on the Presbyterian Church to give it a heritage-listed Auckland church so it can be repurposed into a music centre instead of being sold.

St David’s Church on Auckland’s Khyber Pass Road was built in 1927 as a living memorial to those who died in WWI.

The site’s owner, the Presbyterian Trust, ha put the church, hall and adjoining carpark up for tender.

The Friends of St David’s Trust, which has been advocating to preserve the church, said it was blindsided by the move and it was not consulted on the plan.

St David’s Church in Auckland is being put up for sale by the Presbyterian Trust. Photo: WW100

Chair Paul Baragwanath told Te Waha Nui the group was only aware of the decision the week before the tender was opened.

“While this lack of consultation is hugely disappointing, our focus remains steadfast on the preservation of our taonga which is a sacred place built in honour of our soldiers, and a special space for all New Zealanders.”

Mr Baragwanath said the trust had already spent $100,000 on a business case to transform the church into an acoustic music centre.

“We would like to see it serve the performing arts because it has the most wonderful acoustics, and that also harmonises with its important heritage aspects, with it being a soldiers’ memorial church.”

He called on the Presbyterian Church to put a covenant on the building that protects its role as a living memorial.

The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RSA) said it supports plans to convert the church instead of a possible redevelopment into offices, apartments, or nightclubs.

RSA president BJ Clark said St David’s Church was paid for and built as a living memorial those lost in WWI and any future sales agreement needs to guarantee its protection.

The Presbyterian Church said it decided to sell St David’s Church because it does not need the building, after dissolving its last congregation last November due to declining attendance.

The Northern Presbytery’s executive officer Dr Rod Watts told Te Waha Nui that he is “surprised” to hear the Friends of St David’s Trust felt blindsided by the move, as the trust was well aware the Presbytery was considering a sale.

“We met with three, if not four, of their representatives around a month ago."

He said Mr Baragwanath presented to the Presbytery Council last week around his vision for one of the buildings.

Dr Watts also said the Presbytery will consider how the building will serve the community in the future as part of the tender criteria, given the church’s history.