Exciting times are ahead for Dannevirke's St John the Baptist Anglican Church.
Along with a $400,000 roof replacement now under way, the parish has purchased the house at 172 High St, adjacent to the church, the Reverend Jo Cross, vicar of Southern Hawke's Bay, said.
"At some point we will sell off the vicarage behind the church and the house on 172 High St before building a new church hall on the High St site," she said.
"There is great excitement in the parish at the news, but I'm also aware there are some questions being asked as to how we can purchase this house and land while we're still raising money for the church roof project."
The church has purchased 172 High St with a loan which will be covered by the sale of the vicarage and the house on High St.
"Building a new hall will take time and in the meantime, the former owners of the High St home are still living there as our tenants," the Reverend Cross said.
Craig Boyden of For Homes (NZ) Ltd is co-ordinating this development on behalf of the church and is excited about what the St John's Parish has to look forward to and the redevelopment and refurbishment of our High St.