IT wasn't quite an act of God _ but an ageing weatherboard house flew over a church in Tauranga yesterday.
The heavenly moment was well orchestrated by crane operators from Todd and Pollock.
The three-bedroom home was lifted in two parts from its site behind the Wesley Church in 13th Ave to
make way for an expansion to the Oakland Health rehabilitation and aged-care centre.
Oakland Health owner Sally Morrison donated the house to Holy Trinity Church. It was yesterday taken to a new site in Te Puke.
The only way out was to crane two pieces of the house over Wesley Church and on to the waiting truck in 13th Ave.
"The crane operators were amazing," said Ms Morrison.
"Once they swung into action everything went perfectly _ even though the house was located so close to the church."
Holy Trinity Church sold the house to a local businessman, Bill Taylor, as part of its fundraising.
"It wasn't an easy job," said Kevin Wearne, a member of Holy Trinity's fund-raising committee.
"The house was built on a concrete floor and it had to be lifted and a new floor put in. Still, we will make some reasonable money out of it _ about $10,000.
"Sally has been very generous and Bill was great in taking it on and removing it," said Mr Wearne.
Ms Morrison bought the property 10 years ago knowing she would one day want to use the 890sq m section to expand her nearby private hospital.
Work will soon begin on a three-level addition that will have a commercial laundry in the basement and a physiotherapy department, occupational therapy and lecture rooms on the ground floor.
There will be 27 new bedrooms with en suites on the ground and first floors. When the building is completed in early 2007, Ms Morrison will finish up with 107 patient rooms at Oakland Health.
She is also building two self-contained apartments for people with traumatic brain disorders to use once their hospital care is finished and they are preparing to move back into the community.
