St Christopher’s Church

• 1932 - 1932
• Erect church 00056:127:B11544
• 1989 - 1989
• Church additions and alterations 00059:244:D11166
• 1994 - 1994
• Fire reinstatement 00060:175:6351

• 1923
• St Christopher’s Presbyterian Church

Not assessed

The church is designed in the Romanesque Revival style which was popular in North America and Europe from the 1820s through to the end of the nineteenth century.

The church is sited approximately from east to west with a polygonal apse to the east of the church, and a simpler arch over the font at the west. The entrance is via a diminutive tower to the north that forms the porch. The church is arranged as a simple rectangular hall and there are no aisles, or transept, and the vestries and “Ladies’ Guild Room” form lean-to extensions to the north and south of the chancel/choir area.

The church exterior is of rendered cavity brick with a red Marseille tile roof. The windows are generally fixed or timber “hopper” style with a brick arch at the head. The west, Ventnor Street, elevation is a symmetrical composition of a gable end wall pierced with window openings. The verge is an interesting decorative element and was created from a combination of red quarry tiles and smooth render. The centre of the gable is punctuated by a small round window at high level set over a small projecting bay with a lean-to roof that houses the font. The bay is framed by a pair of rectangular buttresses decorated with consoles.

The north, Forres Street, elevation is notable for the simple, squat tower that forms the entrance porch, and for the way that the church roof extends to form a porch which houses the coat cupboard and the Minister’s vestry. The tower and nave eaves are decorated with a similar verge/facing detail as west elevation. The main entrance doors are tall with a semicircular arched head, and are notable for the large, decorative hinges, and for the decorative door surround with its incised render detail to the arch, set over a pair of squat flanking columns.

The small domestic scale of the building, the tiled roof, the low eaves, and the roughcast render exterior of the church give it an almost Arts and Crafts aesthetic, but the overall effect of the church layout and the decorative scheme is Romanesque.

The influences of this style are found in the Romanesque architecture of Europe during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The revival style was popularised in North America by Henry Hobson Richardson. While the Gothic style was a popular choice for Catholic or Anglican churches, the Romanesque Revival became the choice of style for many Nonconformist and Presbyterian churches, and local examples include the Wesley Church (c.1880) on Taranaki Street and the St James Presbyterian Church (1900) on Adelaide Road.

Cement render on cavity brick walls

Brick arches over timber “hopper” windows

Timber exposed roof trusses

Marseille tile roof

The church is located on the corner of Ventnor Street and Forres Street in the seaside suburb of Seatoun. The main pedestrian entrance to the church is off Forres Street, while another driveway allows access to the original wooden hall which stands apart at the rear of the church. The church has been designed with low eaves to a small, domestic, scale that integrates well with the suburban townscape of Seatoun. Located to the north of the church, across Forres Street, is Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Nga Mokopuna School. Rows of Pohutukawa trees also grow outside the church on both Ventnor and Forres Street.

• 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?

  St Christopher’s Church is a good representative example of an early 20th century church designed in a Romanesque Revival style. It is notable for the quality of its design, materials and craftsmanship, and for the well considered neo-Romanesque decorative scheme / ornamentation.

• 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 building is a minor local landmark for its vibrant Marseille tiled roof, and for its location on a prominent corner site.

• Association

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

  The building has a historic association with the Presbyterian community of Seatoun.

• Archaeological

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

  The archaeological risk is unknown. There has been historic human activity in the Seatoun area prior to 1900. The flat land was formerly a kumara cultivation ground for Māori.

• 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 building has had few intrusive modern alterations and additions in the past 80 years and contributes to the sense of place and continuity of Seatoun.

• 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 its congregation. It will be therefore form the focus of community sentiment and connection for many of its parishioners, and their friends and family.

• 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?

  The building will have symbolic religious value for the Presbyterian community of Seatoun.

• 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 building has retained a significant amount of original fabric therefore it has authenticity.

• Local/Regional/National/International

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

  Because of the role it has played as a church for Seatoun’s Presbyterian community the building is of local importance.

Not assessed

• New Zealand Historic Places Trust. ‘Wesley Church.’ Accessed 19 October 2012.
• Pace, Sherry. Historic churches of Mississippi. University Press of Mississippi, 2007.
• ‘Romanesque Revival.’ In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Accessed October 9, 2012.
• Wellington City Council. ‘Presbyterian church.” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 1995: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 1995. F.
• Wellington City Council. ‘William Fielding.’ Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001. APPENDIX III.
• Evening Post. Volume LXXXVI, Issue 60. 8 September 1913. Page 9.
• Evening Post. Volume CXIV, Issue 92. 15 October 1932. Page 11.
• Archives: ‘27 Ventnor Street, erect church.’ 24 March 1932. 00056:127:B11544.

• Inventory Report

Not available