On Saturday 18 February current and former members of the Ashburton Methodist parish, community and MCNZ church leaders, project contractors, and people from the wider Connexion gathered in the refurbished Baring Square Centre to celebrate the conclusion of a renovation project that has been more than a decade in the planning, execution, and delivery.

Rev Peter Taylor, President of MCNZ joined Rev Kathryn Walters, District Superintendent, and Alister Smyth, Parish Steward in welcoming the many guests gathered to witness the official opening celebration. In December 2022 the congregation attended the first service in the church since engineers deemed the structure compromised following a Sunday service on 5 September 2010 immediately after an earthquake in Canterbury that caused severe damage in the region.

In her opening address, Rev Kathryn Walters commented on the amazing turnout and the high expectations of everyone gathered for the versatile, centrally-located amenity. In acknowledging what God has given the community, she invited everyone to celebrate the building and the amazing acoustics of the venue as evidenced by performances by soloist Leanne Gichard and piper Iain Inglis.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown spoke of the collaboration between church and community that has achieved mutual benefits for ratepayers and parishioners. In December 2017 a Sale and Purchase Agreement between the parish and the District Council was the first step in formalising a complicated process that eventually enabled a redevelopment of the site and land adjacent. The scope of the project included a newly configured entry, meeting room, kitchen, toilets, and versatile function space for the church and the Council. Plans also included the building of a civic centre and public library on land next door, formerly the site of the church hall. The library and civic centre buildings are scheduled for completion later this year.

Managing the challenges of building and resource consent was not the only hurdle for the tenacious and committed building committee. In April 2020 pigeons did significant damage to the interior of the church tower. A month later vandals smashed the church windows and a year later, when construction work was underway, a major leak in the roof halted renovations for several months as the building committee struggled to find funding to cover the cost of replacing the original slate roof. Covid also disputed the timeline for the project’s completion. Work recommenced in January 2022, just a month after another attack on the church interior by vandals. The project was finally completed in September 2022.

Timaru-based architectural firm Rushton Architects played an integral part in the project, translating the initial wish list and brief from the planning committee into plans and adeptly managing changes as the project evolved.

Hayley Groves, a director of the project management company Rangzen Pro, has been closely involved in the project from the outset and praised the commitment of the building committee. “It is important to note that without the dedication of a very small Parish Committee, ably led by Judith Crozier this project would not have happened. The Committee was determined to deliver a wonderful multiuse facility for both the Church and the Ashburton community. It has been an incredible journey for us all.”

Rev Norman West entertained the guests assembled as he shared memories from his childhood when he attended morning and evening Sunday worship services and Sunday school in the church and church hall strategically located on a prime site in the centre of town. Norman recalled many special moments and memories that nurtured and shaped his faith. He closed his address by saying, “This church is a sacred place. May it continue to be a place that nurtures freedom of thought and enables people to live out their faith.”