Church centenary in August

The Immaculate Heart of Mary, formerly the Immaculate Conception Church, will celebrate its centenary in its new home in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

The Immaculate Conception Church from Ngongotaha will celebrate its centenary this year, despite being relocated to Auckland and re-dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The parish of St Anthony's, which is based in Whanganui but has a parish of 90 people in Auckland, purchased the building and relocated it to Avondale two years ago.

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church stood for almost 100 years at Taui St in Ngongotaha, but was closed by the Catholic Church and was put up for tender late 2012.

Father Robert MacPherson from St Anthony's said the 100-year milestone would be celebrated in August.

"We don't know the exact date it was first put in use, we just know it [the centenary] is 2015, so we will plan to celebrate that on the feast of the Immaculate Heart.

"August 22 is the feast of the immaculate heart and although the church was formally under the title of the Immaculate Conception, our parish has always been the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

The building has since undergone some renovations.

"We've certainly filled it out, we were able to import a marble altar from Australia that was donated to us."

They had also made an extension along one side of the building and planned to do the other side when funds became available.

"It is progressing well. Some flooring needs to go in but the inside is usable."

Father Robert said the church had been in use since Christmas 2013 and was appreciated.

"The building we had before was really just a converted shed and so when that unfortunately burnt down it obliged us to look for something more suitable.

"We had asked someone to keep their eye out for any building that might serve our purposes so when we saw it we jumped on it. It's used several times a week."

The church was built in 1915 on land which was later gifted to the Catholic Church by Taui Takerei, who died in 1938 and was buried beside the entranceway to the church. Local couple David Taui and Mel Taui, relations to Taui Takerei, had previously told the Rotorua Daily Post they believed the building should stay in Ngongotaha. They were upset about the sale.

Members of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church had previously told the Rotorua Daily Post they were sad to see the church go, but it would be worse to see it deteriorate or become vandalised.