Congregational Church

• 1916
• Lorne Street and Cambridge Terrace [45 Cambridge Terrace], church and school (00053:188:10350)
• 1923
• 45 Cambridge Terrace, additions to school (00055:22:A2085)
• 1984
• 45 Cambridge Terrace, alterations to church (00058:0:C64926)
• 1999
• 45 Cambridge Terrace, earthquake strengthening (00078:346:53274)

• unknown
• The Congregational Union of NZ

Not assessed

The architectural style of the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church is a truncated from of Edwardian Gothic, known in Australia as Federation Gothic. The Gothic element has been considerably underplayed, most noticeably in the lack of “verticality” in the building. The roof pitch is relatively low while the arched windows hint at the pointed but are actually more segmental in style. The buttresses on the Cambridge Terrace façade are capped with modest, squared off pinnacles and have none of the “soaring” qualities associated with true Gothic churches. Another small pinnacle rises above the main roof like a scaled down steeple.

In plan, the building is a wide rectangle, capped by a parapeted gable, with its apex and main lines in plaster. The main façade us basically symmetrical, dominated by a large arched window ribbed into five parts, with a simplified form of bar tracery under the spandrel. The four windows on each adjoining façade are similar although on a smaller scale. There is a parapeted brick portico on the main façade, with doors on both sides, and a matching fence along the Lorne Street boundary. At the rear of the church a Sunday school annex, similar in style though plainer and lower, forms a return gable.

The church is constructed of monochromatic double cavity brickwork, with facings in plaster, and a distinctive ‘diamond’ tile roof.

This Church has restrained streetscape appeal because the Gothic elements of the Church have been downplayed. It is a solid, unpretentious, workmanlike design, suited to a non-conforming congregation which had little taste for ostentatious buildings with grandiose trappings. The Church is sited away from the more prestigious locations of the mainstream churches, and the building does not have high public recognition. It is a building of some architectural interest, occupying a prominent corner in an area of mixed commercial buildings.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  The Congregational Church on Cambridge Terrace is a good representative example of an early 20th C church. The style is a truncated Gothic with few external embellishments, and was designed to suit a non-conformist congregation which had little taste for ostentatious buildings with grandiose trappings.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  This building is of townscape value, it is a distinctive red-brick building that occupies a prominent street corner in an area of mixed commercial buildings.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

  The Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church is associated with the fortunes of a small, non-conforming congregation that established itself in the city during the 1870s. The church is sited away from the more prestigious locations of mainstream churches in Wellington, and the building does not have high public recognition.

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  NZAA Central City R27/270 archaeological area

• IdentitySenseOfPlaceContinuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  The building has had few intrusive, modern, alterations and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of an ever-changing Cambridge Terrace.

• SentimentConnection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The building has been a place of worship since 1916 and continues to be associated with the key events in the life of members of the congregation including the births, marriages, deaths of individuals, their friends and family.

• SymbolicCommemorativeTraditionalSpiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  The church remains in active use. It has strong spiritual and commemorative associations for the generations of parishioners who have worshipped there.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  This building has authenticity as it has had few significant modifications carried out and retains a great amount of original material.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  The church is a restrained example of an early 20th C Gothic church designed for a non-conformist congregation. It is a good representative example of the work of architect William Fielding

• Importance

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  This building is locally important for the contributions that it makes to the religious and social heritage of the central city. It is an unusual design by a prominent Wellington architect, retains a great deal of authenticity, and contributes to the Cambridge Terrace streetscape.

Not assessed

• Wellington City Council. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Wellington City Council Heritage Building Inventory 2001 – Appendix III Wellington Architects
• Hataitai Local History website. Accessed July 2012
• Wellington City Archive
• 00053:188:10350
• 00055:22:A2085
• 00058:0:C64926
• 00078:346:53274

• Inventory Report
• 1916 plans
• 1923 plans

Not available