Dannevirke Anglicans will build new church hall on High St section

The Anglican parish of St John the Baptist bought this home and section at 172 High St, adjacent to the church. Photo / Christine McKay

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.

Last year St John's Anglican Church parish formed a committee to work through the church's property matters.

As previously reported, the parish gave the go ahead to re-roof the church, a major undertaking which required a huge amount of fundraising which is still continuing.

"Progress is great, with the job nearing completion and the scaffolding due to come down at the end of September," Mr Boyden said.

The committee then considered other matters facing St John's, including the future of the vicarage homestead which is no longer used as a vicarage and has been rented out for several years.

As the vicarage section was effectively landlocked, access off High St was required to enable the homestead to be sold as a separate entity with separate access, Mr Boyden said.

"As well, the church hall is now reaching the end of its economic life and is physically and functionally obsolete.

"Therefore, a solution was identified next door for St John's to purchase the property at 172 High St, obtain permission to sell the beautiful old villa homestead for removal, allowing the site to be subdivided to provide separate access down the southern boundary of 172 High St to the vicarage, allowing that property to be sold separately.

"This redevelopment will also provide amenities for the renovated historic St John's Anglican Church as well as a home for the many organisations and activities which operate from the church buildings through the building of a multi-use church hall on the balance of the High St site."