Wadestown Presbyterian Church closing

By Frank Neill

The Wadestown Presbyterian Church will hold its last service on Sunday 26 March.

The church has a long and amazing history, having been part of Wadestown since 1881.

The church celebrated this history with a series of events on 11 and 12 March, including a service at 1:30pm on the Sunday led by Reverend Allister Lane and Reverend Chris Purdie.

The decision to close the church was a difficult one to make, but one that the members ultimately all agreed upon, the church says.

The decision to close was not made due to lack of members or money, but rather about having people who were able to commit time and energy to provide leadership in the future.

The church community is keen to see a commemoration of the long history and has approached Wellington City Council about planting a commemorative tree.

The site the church suggested for a commemorative tree was in the Wadestown playground, which is directly opposite the church.

Wellington City Councillor

Diane Calvert – a Wharangi/ Onslow-Western Ward Councillor – is advocating on behalf of the church in relation to planting a commemorative tree.

She has also asked City Archives if there anything that needs to be recorded about the Wadestown Presbyterian Church.

“This is an important part of our history,” Cr Calvert says. With the church about to become vacant both Cr Calvert and the Acting Chair of the Wadestown Residents’ Association, Greg Hyland, are asking whether the building could be used as a community facility –possibly as a new location for the Wadestown Community Centre.

The present community centre has accessibility issues “and we should be asking whether this church goes into the mix,” Cr Calvert says.

“We are disappointed that the Wadestown Presbyterian

Emergency response practice

An emergency response practice will be held at Tawa School, 5 Oxford Street, from 11am to 1pm on Saturday 25 March.

Church is closing,” Mr Hyland says. ‘We value their contribution to the community.”

However with the closing of the church “we see potential for it to be a wonderful community space.”

The church, Mr Hyland says, “has been a historical part of the community for a very long time and [the building] would be a wonderful community facility to respect its roots.”

He says he would like to see Wellington City Council looking at the possibility of using the church building as a community centre, particularly given the issues with the current community centre site.

Organised by the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, the practice will provide information about the local Community Emergency Hub and the types of help that may be needed after an emergency.

People will practise various volunteer roles with an interactive earthquake scenario.

The practice is open to people of all ages and abilities and no experience is needed. Refreshments will be provided.

Youth programme

Challenge 2000 is running an after school programme at the Johnsonville Community Centre on Tuesdays. For tamariki from year 7 to year 13, the programme begins at 3pm and runs until 4:45pm.

It includes both food and games.

Contemporary dance

Contemporary dance classes are now being held from 6:45 to 7:45pm on Tuesday evenings at the Newlands Community Centre.

Laura Ryan is running the classes and for more information people can ring Laura on 027 429 4801.