A piece of Mangaweka's past will soon disappear from the village landscape.
But there will be life after Mangaweka for the historic, Anglican Church of St Martin's.
In the near future the Victorian Gothic-style, wooden building, which has stood for more than 100 years, will be uplifted and transported to Rathkeale College
in the Wairarapa where it will be restored for use as the school's chapel.
St Martin's is one of three churches which stand almost side-by-side in Mangaweka and which were all built around the same time. All three also have New Zealand Historic Places Trust Category 2 classifications.
Only St Patrick's Catholic Church, directly opposite St Martin's, is still used for worship.
St Martin's was officially deconsecrated in 2000 and put on the market by the Wellington diocese with the condition that any future owner must use it for a religious purpose.
Rathkeale College board of trustees has not only accepted that condition but has also offered to install a memorial on the Mangaweka site and offer a grant to a Mangaweka boy to attend Rathkeale College.
