An unsuspecting congregation could not see the damage water was doing, and now major refurbishing to restore and protect the Putiki Church is under way.
A new roof will replace the 40-year-old decramastic tiles that looked good when installed in the 1970s, but over time a good southerly wind drove the water beneath a hairline overlap and leaked down into the interior of the church.
Water was getting in through the belfry, and on the west wall ponded in the corners at the apex of the church entrance after it dripped down the wall. That was fixed in 2010, but the church - which was built well in 1937 by the standards of the time in an architectural fusion of Maori and European - no longer complies with the building code.
But the biggest job is the rewiring, St Paul's Memorial Church Putiki and Restoration Trust chairwoman Huia Kirk said. The heating has been inadequate, she said, and in the upgrade a sprinkler system will be installed.
In December a stained glass expert came up from Pukerua Bay to fix the bulging stained glass window in the eastern wall of the altar; Miss Kirk said the stars that disappeared with the bulge have now returned. The trust will beginning fundraising in earnest in February to raise $25,000, the balance of $200,000.
Miss Kirk said the Lotteries commission has given the trust $98,487 and two years to complete the work; Powerco $60,000; Whanganui Community Foundation, $5000 for St Paul's link with history and tradition, and Te Ati Hau Trust $10,000 for interior work to re-oil the carvings and repaint the kowhaiwhai. The trust has already raised $553 from the waffle breakfast it held last year.
Sir Aprirana Ngata first took part in the discussions about the proposed new church at Putiki, and was closely involved with the work of the carvings from 1936 onwards. He arranged for carvers and supervised the work, and designed the tukutuku panels behind the altar which were prepared in Wellington and presented to the church by women from Ngati Poneke. Hohaia (Joe) Mokaraka (Te Tai Tokerau), Hoani (John) Metekingi (Putiki), Pineamine (Pine) Taiapa (Ngati Porou), Iotua Taringatahi (Charlie) Tuarau (Cook Islands), and Wi Te Parihi (Kaikohe) were the church carvers.
Oriwa Haddon was responsible for the kowhaiwhai painting on the rafters in the church, and the work was completed by Jack Kingi from Gisborne. Tawhai Takoko from Tikitiki on the East Coast supervised the kakaho reed work on the ceiling of St Paul's. The kakaho stalks were cut from the Kokohuia Wetland at Castlecliff. Arthur Cutler from England was the architect and builder of St Paul's and died in Wanganui in 1951.