New banner but faith is kept

LAWRENCE GULLERY
An Anglican church, more than 100 years old, which was converted to an office during the late 1980s, is heading for its third lease on life.
The former St Mark's Church from Clive was relocated to Hastings in 1987 and used as an office for 21 years.
In a few weeks it will officially be converted back into a holy building but this time under a new banner of St Demetrios, to become Hawke's Bay's first Christian Greek Orthodox church.
Father Ioakeim, of Hastings, who will be the "staple priest", said although the building would carry the label "Greek Orthodox Church" it would be open to anyone who wanted to visit.
In fact visitors from other churches, including the St Mark's parish, were expected at the first service, to be held on Sunday, October 26, the feast day marking St Demetrios. The service will be led by Archbishop Amphilochios, the ruling bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of New Zealand, who lives in Wellington.
Fr Ioakeim said the archbishop travelled to Greece to lobby for finance to purchase a building for Hawke's Bay's first Greek Orthodox church.
"Two years ago, the archbishop came out here and we started looking for a building for a church," Fr Ioakeim said.
"I saw that the people [in the former Clive church] had moved out. I knew the owner, so I asked the archbishop if I could make a call to ask about buying it. We were the first ones in line. We went through and purchased it," he said.
Costly new building regulations requiring the church to be earthquake resistant set back redevelopment plans but Fr Ioakeim said the opening service was still on track.
Until now the church members had been accommodated by various Anglican and Presbyterian churches in Hastings and Clive.
Fr Ioakeim said the church would initially serve the 80 Greek nationals living in Hastings and Napier, about 80-100 Russian Orthodox church followers, and about six Serbian families.
"We've also had some interest shown from a few Maori and New Zealanders, some of whom don't follow strongly another church - but it's important to say, we will be open to anyone," he said.