Old St Paul’s Cathedral

• 1865 - 1866
• Original building construction
• 1868
• Addition – South transept
• 1874
• Additions and alterations – North transept and widening of church.
• 1882
• Addition – New Chancel
• 1883
• Additions and alterations – Porches to clergy vestry, south east corner of chancel and south transept, extension of baptistry
• 1895
• Alteration – replacement of roof shingle with iron
• 1924
• Alteration – replacement of iron with shingles
• 1944
• Addition – Robing room

Not assessed

Not assessed

Old St Paul’s Cathedral is the finest nineteenth-century Gothic Revival timber church in Wellington, and one of the finest in the country. The cathedral is primarily a New Zealand adaptation of Gothic, built in Kauri, Rimu, Totara, rather than oak and stone. The detail of its styling may be derived from many sources, but the architect has created an original work of architecture of the highest order.

The design of the original building was a simple, rectangular ground plan with a nave and aisles. The various additions, the north and south transepts, chancel and choir vestry, have taken away something of this simple design, but have been so skilfully integrated that they contribute to rather than detract from the character of the original design. The elements of the exterior – the steeple and spire, board and batten cladding, the hierarchy of pointed gables, quatrefoil and trefoil windows, trefoil arches and moulded bargeboards, superbly scaled baptistery and octagonal clergy vestry – all contribute to a composition that transcends the sum of its parts.

“The chief glory of Old St Paul’s is its wooden interior.” The scissor trusses of the roof, without tie beams, preserve the traditional Gothic lines of a stone-vaulted roof, and promote a visual purity and a sense of height. The richness of timber is everywhere apparent, from the beams to the Kauri sarking, and the detail is excellent, with fine carving on the pulpit and the ends of the choir stalls.

The original foundation blocks were natural rounds of Totara, the floor joists were mainly heart Rimu, with ground plates and stringers of Matai and Totara. The flooring was mainly Matai. Framing above floor level, and roof trusses, was Rimu, and the exterior cladding was Totara.

Old St Paul’s is a landmark building in Thorndon and makes a strong contribution to the character of its surroundings. Despite the number of high rise buildings that are now its neighbours, it can still be seen from a number of the adjacent streets and the harbour. Its exterior is a complex composition of forms and its spire is highly visible.

• 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?

  Old St Paul’s Cathedral is the finest nineteenth-century Gothic Revival timber church in Wellington, and one of the finest in the country. The cathedral is primarily a New Zealand adaptation of Gothic, built in Kauri, Rimu, Totara, rather than oak and stone. The detail of its styling may be derived from many sources, but the architect has created an original work of architecture of the highest order.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  The building has group value with the adjoining house – Bishopscourt, the Anglican Bishop’s Residence, and in a wider context with the new St Paul’s Cathedral on Molesworth Street.

• 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?

  Old St Paul’s has significant townscape value: it is a landmark building in Thorndon, it’s setting amongst mature trees and its spire can be seen from many adjacent streets and the harbour.

• Association

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

  This building is a site of significance not only for Anglicans and Wellingtonians, but for all New Zealander’s. It is the site of one of the greatest heritage battles in New Zealand in the twentieth century. 

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  This building was an Anglican place of worship for Wellingtonians from 1866 to 1964, and by the U.S. Marines who served in the Pacific during WWII.

  The building is considered to be the best work of architect and cleric – Frederick Thatcher, and the best surviving example of the work of prominent Wellington architect - Christian Julius Toxward.

  It is now a government owned building that continues to be used for special services, cultural activities, and as a tourist destination for visitors to the city. 

• Archaeological

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

  This building was constructed pre-1900 and there was activity on the site prior to the construction of the church – archaeological protection HPA 1993. Maori site of significance M65.

• Educational

  Does the item have educational value for what it can demonstrate about aspects of the past?

  There is educational value in this building as it is evocative of its time and place – it is constructed in native timbers, and grew in response to changing needs of the community.

• Technological

  Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

  There is technical value in Old St Paul’s due to its construction and the materials used – its exterior is a complex composition of forms designed by several different architects and built at different times but remaining harmonious. The additions seem organic and add to the character of the exterior.

  There is technical value in the interiors as well – being constructed in timber the interior maintains the forms of a Gothic stone vaulted roof. 

• Identity/Sense of place/Continuity

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

  This building is a focus of community identity and continues to be used for special services, for cultural activities, and as a destination for locals and visitors. The building is one of the oldest in Wellington and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of Thorndon and the surrounding city.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  This building is held in extremely high public esteem – this can be seen by the ‘battle’ to save the building in the 1960s and its subsequent purchase by the state.

• Sentiment/Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  This building is a focus of community sentiment and connection – it has seen generations of Wellingtonians worship, be baptised, married, and buried.

• Symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual

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

  This building has significant symbolic, commemorative, traditional, and spiritual values not only for Anglicans, but for all Wellingtonians and New Zealander’s in general. It has some symbolic, spiritual and commemorative value for its connection with the U.S Marines who served in the Pacific during WWII and for their extended families.

• 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 retains significant early or original built fabric and form.

• Rare

  Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

  This building has outstanding heritage significance – it is one of a small number of truly significant works of 19th century architecture in New Zealand.

• Representative

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

  Based on the Gothic style, Old St Paul’s is an excellent example of a New Zealand interpretation of this style in native timbers.

• Local/Regional/National/International

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

  This is a nationally significant building. It is a much used and much loved church that has important historic and social values. It is a significant work of New Zealand 19th century architecture with significant townscape values – it is a landmark building in Wellington. The exterior and interiors have been restored to a high level and maintain original integrity and authenticity.

Not assessed

• Alington, Margaret. 'Thatcher, Frederick - Thatcher, Frederick', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 30-Oct-2012
• Carnachan, Simon. ‘Old St Paul’s Church Wellington.’ Ref: Plans-81-0614. Accessed 10/04/13
• O’Hare, Noel. ‘Heaven on Earth’ in Heritage New Zealand, Summer 2007, accessed 11/04/13
• Wellington City Council, “34 Mulgrave Street,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.

• Inventory Report

Not available