Ward Memorial Methodist Church and Hall (Former)

• unknown
• Need Archives information to complete: check file 00056:82:B7800

• 1903 - 1994
• Methodist Church
• 1999
• St Anne’s Church

Not assessed

This small suburban brick church follows the traditional squared form of the English village church although decorative detail has been pared to a minimum - perhaps a reflection of the fact that the church was built during the Depression. The main body of the church is essentially a rectangle with a five-sided apse at the (liturgical) east end. The church is roofed under one dominant gable. The squat bell tower on the east elevation is the most significant feature of the exterior, a form that has its roots in Anglo-Saxon originals. The main entrance to the church is under the tower, which has plain latticed lancet windows, and is capped by a shallow parapet. Two smaller square projections on the east elevation echo the shape of the tower; one of these rooms holds the vestry, the other forms a small transept

Remarkable similarities in form and style can be observed when comparing this church to the two All Saints Churches in Ngaio and Hataitai. Built within two years of each other, these three historic churches reflect an interwar revivalist style, taking inspiration from small English rural churches. All three are constructed in red ‘facing’ brick and have a square tower. The three churches are an important comment on ecclesiastical architecture of the period.

The hall is a simple, rectangular, utilitarian structure of timber construction with an iron roof, double-hung windows, and a pitched roof. The church matches the hall’s orientation and form; the two structures form a curious yet compatible pair on the site. Though they are not twin buildings, there is a definite sibling resemblance. And just as the church is of its interwar revival era, so too is the hall of its Wellington settler era.

The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on concrete foundations and piles. A timber roof truss system supports a Marseilles tile roof.

The former Ward Memorial Methodist Church and Hall occupy a prominent position in Northland, slightly removed from the main shopping centre, on the corner of Northland, Randwick, and Garden roads. Opposite the church, Northland Road falls away into steep decline (tracked by Garden Road), leaving the church with an impressive view south to the suburbs of Kelburn and Highbury.

The former Ward Memorial Methodist Church is one of the feature buildings of Northland, a suburb where notable public buildings are few. Its simple gabled form and modest tower contribute an important note to the character of the local area. Along with the former Northland Fire Station (located easily within sight from the church at 56 Northland Road), the Ward Memorial church and hall provide architectural interest, a sense of history, and definition to the suburb.

• 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 former Ward Memorial Church is a good representative example of revivalist architecture that was typical of New Zealand church buildings in the early 20th century. The building was designed to resemble an English rural parish church, and is particularly notable for the simplicity of its form, and for the use of facing brick as a building material. The hall is a simple structure, but with the church forms an aesthetically pleasing pairing on the site.

• 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?

  The church has definite townscape value for Northland, especially when paired with the fire station across the road. It is a landmark in the village.

• Association

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

  The church was named for Reverent Robert Ward, a pioneer Methodist clergyman who worked in New Zealand from 1844-1876. The church’s stronger association, though, is with the Methodist community, who established the parish and occupied this site for over 100 years. The buildings are now in use by the Anglican Church.

• Archaeological

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

  Risk unknown

• 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?

  The church retains its original general function – as a place of worship for the Northland community – though the denomination changed in the 1990s from Methodist to Anglican. The church is still a focus of the community, having being used for community events since its establishment. In addition, the exteriors are almost unchanged in over 100 and 80 years, for the hall and church respectively, and thus contribute to a sense of place and continuity in Northland.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  The church is a valued part of the Northland townscape and has been used by the community for over a century.

• Sentiment Connection

  Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

  The church has been the site of traditional social ceremonies associated with the key events in the lives of both its Methodist and Anglican congregation. It will be therefore form the focus of community sentiment and connection for many of its parishioners, and 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 holds spiritual and historic value for the Northland community, in particular for both its Methodist and Anglican parishioners.

• 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?

  The church is authentic in its exterior form.

• Loacal Regional National International

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

  The church is important on a local level.

• Rare

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

  In a suburb with few landmarks, the church is a rare stand-out building in Northland.

• Representative

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

  The church is representative of ecclesiastical architecture and design during the interwar period.

Not assessed

• Heritage Help – Local People’. Hataitai Local History website, accessed April 2013.
• Miller, John H. Ward Memorial Methodist Church, Northland, Wellington, 1904-1954. 1954.
• ‘Our History – Our Parish’. St Ninian’s Uniting Church website. Accessed May 2013 at http://www.stninians.org.nz/?page_id=233
• St Anne’s Northland’. Anglican Diocese of Wellington website. Accessed May 2013, at
• Wellington City Council. ‘Wellington City Council Heritage Building Inventory 2001 - Appendix III, Wellington Architects’.
• ________. ‘69 Northland Road - Ward Memorial Methodist Church and Hall’. Heritage Building Inventory 1999.
• ________. ‘Ward Memorial Methodist Church and Hall – 69 Northland Road, cnr Randwick Road’. Heritage Building Inventory 1995.

Not available

Not available