Wellington’s St Gerard’s Church to close due to ‘safety concerns’, fate of its earthquake-prone buildings undecided

After 113 years, St Gerard’s Church, a familiar sight on Wellington’s skyline, will celebrate its final mass in late May when it closes due to “security concerns,” but the fate of the buildings remains unclear.

Sitting on Oriental Bay, St Gerard’s monastery and church buildings are listed as heritage. Owned by the International Catholic Evangelization Program (IPCE), the buildings are rated 25 percent of the New Zealand construction standard. Anything below 34 percent is considered earthquake-prone.

Its owners had tried to raise funds to make the buildings code compliant, but, by July 2020, it had only raised $ 42,000 of the $ 11 million it needed. The cost is understood to be now $ 13 million.

In a statement seen by Things On her last Mass, ICPE Mission New Zealand director Silvana Abela said the church would close due to security concerns.

READ MORE:
* Difficulties for owners of the earthquake-prone St Gerardo Monastery in Wellington
* Saint Gerard’s Historic Landmark opens its doors for Heritage Week
* The Changemaker: A Conversation with Cardinal John Dew on the Future of the Catholic Church
* Wellington’s Church of Saint Mary of the Angels reopens after strengthening from the $ 9.5 million earthquake

His last service after 113 years, will be held on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, and would be celebrated by the Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew.

The buildings were “with yellow stickers” after the Christchurch earthquakes, and although the monastery was built with some reinforcement after the Napier earthquake, the church did not have this.

“A substantial sum of money was needed to strengthen both buildings by the earthquake, and several attempts to find such sums had failed,” Abela said in the statement.

Abela said the Covid-19 pandemic meant that 2021 was the second year that the ICPE School of Mission failed to take place, with missionaries and students abroad unable to attend.

“At the same time, the reality of a large building needing to be strengthened by an earthquake has led the ICPE Mission to reconsider our long-term presence in Wellington and seek new ways to be the presence of Christ in the city.”

“ICPE Mission has made this difficult decision in consultation with the Archdiocese of Wellington to close St Gerard’s Church for security reasons,” the statement said.

“Both buildings have ‘Category 1’ New Zealand Heritage classifications. ICPE’s mission has yet to decide its future. “

Wellington City Councilwoman Iona Pannett, who holds the council’s wealth building resilience portfolio, said it would be a sad day for the community and the mission, who made the place their home.

The council had previously given ICPE money to strengthen the seismic design, he said.

Strengthening was difficult for many earthquake-prone property owners who found it expensive, he said.

“I love the building, it adds something to Wellington and the council has supported them, but that will not be enough,” said Pannett, as he thought the costs to strengthen the buildings would likely exceed $ 13 million.

Pannett suggested potentially discrediting the church for events like weddings and funerals, and it could also be appropriate for homes.

Wellington City Councilor Nicola Young, who has family ties to the church, said St Gerard’s Church was an important part of Wellington’s landscape.

“I am relieved that the owners are realistic because it will cost millions to strengthen both buildings; it’s a huge seismic problem, ”Young said.

He wanted the buildings to be saved and hoped they could be reused in apartments or a hotel.

“It could be a brilliant reuse project, but it’s a great project.”

Historic Sites Wellington President Felicity Wong said times were tough for Wellington’s built heritage.

St Gerard’s Church had a special place in Wellington’s landscape and was an important heritage building, Wong said.

“ICPE has taken care of that building and made it open and welcoming to the people of Wellington.”

St Gerard’s is not the only church in Wellington that has had to deal with the strengthening costs of the earthquake.

St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church on Boulcott St reopened in 2017 after a $ 9.3 million upgrade to repair 10 columns, nine portals and the roof.