Rotorua's St John's Presbyterian Church where it first stood on Pukuatua St. Photo/Supplied
Rotorua's St John's Presbyterian Church where it first stood on Pukuatua St. Photo/Supplied
St John's Church has a history that spans more than 120 years, a royal visit and an ever growing parish.
It's one year today since the Rotorua church, on the corner of Victoria and Ranolf Sts, was destroyed by fire. The site remains empty but there are plans to rebuildon the same site.
The first Presbyterian ministers came to Rotorua 11 years after it was first declared a township in 1881.
At that time services were held in public halls or hotels, ministers standing on billiard tables to be seen and heard.
In 1896 Rotorua's first St John's Presbyterian church was built on Pukuatua St, midway between Amohia and Tutanekai St, now the site of the Ministry of Social Development.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit Rotorua's St John's Church in 1954. Photo/Supplied
The focus was on youth, and the Sunday School and children's choir grew rapidly in popularity - a tennis court was even built beside the church for the youth to play on.
During World War II the church supported its parishioners and soldiers from the Rotorua community with care packages and held services to maintain morale at home.
In January 1954 history was made when the reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended a morning service at the church during their first visit to New Zealand.
The couple sat in the front pew and the church choir began hymns with God Save the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip outside the church after a traditional morning service. Photo/Supplied
On November 4, 1989, when the parish had outgrown the small building and the land on Pukuatua St had become highly sought after, they moved to what Minister Lance Thomas, now retired, described as the "beautifully designed building" on the corner of Victoria and Ranolf Sts.
In its new venue the church was able to host a congregation of more than 350.
"There were a few elements that were brought from the old building into the new," Thomas said.
"The beautiful stained glass windows, the pew the Queen had sat on, beams from the old building, pieces of furniture.
"The building was a beautiful integration of the contemporary and the heritage."
The old bell was refurbished and hung from the belfry, which was detached from the church and remains standing.
Thomas spent more than 14 years as a minister and said it was a "fantastic church".
Following the fire only three elements of the original church and very little of the new were able to be salvaged. Along with the bell, an old Bible and the communion cups were able to be saved.
"The building itself was well loved, but what really made the church was the people," Thomas said.
"It was a very vibrant and active church, really engaged with the community."
He said the church had a special place in the lives and hearts of many.
"It had a lovely chapel and, yes, it was a modern building in terms of the design, but it was really all about how we could use it and that was to reach out to the wider community."
