Wellington’s St Gerard’s Church to Close After Earthquake Strengthening Fundraiser Fails

By RNZ’s Harry Lock

Wellington’s iconic St Gerard Church will close its doors at the end of next month, after the owners failed to raise enough money to strengthen the earthquake-prone building.

The church and neighboring monastery, both listed as category one heritage buildings, were deemed earthquake-prone after the Christchurch earthquakes.

The estimated cost for the buildings to meet the standard is $ 10 million.

Despite multiple attempts to raise those funds, the owners have admitted defeat.

St Gerard’s was built in 1908 for the Redemptorists (the Catholic Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) and the monastery was added in 1932.

It was taken over by the ICPE Mission, the New Zealand chapter of the Institute for World Evangelization, in the 1990s.

Services have continued every Sunday, while the ICPE Mission has also used the space for retreats, seminars, youth weekends, and parish missions.

“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,” said the director of the ICPE ICPE mission, Silvana Abela.

The final service will be held on the Christian holiday of Pentecost in late May.

The Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew, will celebrate the final mass.

What makes the building so important?

The church is recognized by Heritage New Zealand as “one of Wellington’s most important and well-known landmarks” due to its “spectacular location” and “combination with the large and impressive monastery”.

In the mid-20th century, the church was nationally recognized for its choir, with services broadcast on National Radio for 37 years.

It also has an international spiritual significance, as the “first church in the world dedicated to Saint Gerard Majella”.

It also has architectural significance “as an example of the work of well-known local architect John Sydney Swan”.

Historic Places Wellington president Felicity Wong said the building’s closure should act as “a real wake-up call for Wellington residents.”

“We need to collaborate and try to figure out how we can help the owners raise the money to strengthen those buildings.

“It’s a place-making building, it’s a building we all know and love, it’s a building we’re all familiar with.”

He said there were options on the table.

“The whole city needs to be behind the collection of money, to apply for lotteries, to apply for the Government through the Equipment Fund, through the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

“And we all have a responsibility to help ensure that construction remains an iconic part of our landscape.”

– RNZ