St John’s Community Church has arguably undergone more change than most church buildings in Aotearoa. Built in 1903, the quaint wooden building was gifted by the Anglican Parish of Awanui and relocated in 1986 from its original site at Awanui, Northland to Great Barrier Island, 100 kilometers north east of Auckland.

Work is now underway to extend and renovate the church annex so as to provide a place for worship, gathering and activity for all who live on or visit the island. Project leader Teresa Manion-Wood talks about progress unfolding in God’s own timeframe.

As the only church on the island, St John’s has fulfilled a role as a true community church, operating under a joint use agreement between Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist churches. Preachers, presbyters and priests from each denomination operate on a shared schedule, flying in to lead their assigned Sunday service. Over recent years, many church communities - on the island and off - have rallied around to support the ambitious extension and renovation project.

Teresa has been a member of the St John’s Community Church since she moved to the Island, colloquially known as The Barrier, in 1993. Home to approximately 1,200 permanent residents, the Island population swells in the summer months, attracting tens of thousands of visitors drawn to the remote location, secluded beaches and picturesque scenery.

In addition to gathering for worship, the church community run a successful opportunity shop, a food bank and an accommodation venue known as Medland Haven. Hiring out the large, modern lodge next to the church provides income for outreach programmes and operating expenses. Over the past two years, in addition to the obvious health risks posed by Covid, the pandemic has had major repercussions for island residents. Tourism has effectively been stymied, severely impacting business operators and depriving many of their livelihoods. The Church renovation project has also been affected.

A Space for Community to Congregate

It was prior to the Covid crisis that the parish council identified a need for additional space to provide a fit-for-purpose, comfortable area for community and congregational groups to gather. Unlike a city or rural community on the mainland, Great Barrier Island lacks venues suitable for public gatherings. The church offered a possible venue to cater for pastoral, educational, social and outreach activities and meetings. Teresa says, “There are many people living on the Island in straitened circumstances and lots of the homes are small and bach-like. People do not always choose to meet in homes. It will be good to have a place for all to gather and meet.”

To maximize the potential for the church to provide a suitable community meeting space, changes were needed. Following a process of prayer and consultation, the decision was made to extend and upgrade the existing church. The scope of works included a 2.4 metre extension to the northern end of the annex, new window and door joinery and glazing, an expansive wooden deck area and an upgrade to the kitchen and interior furnishings.

When plans were approved by St John’s Council in February 2020, Teresa was invited to lead the Annex Alterations project sub-committee tasked with overseeing the renovation project. Within the month, the team had an ambitious plan for raising funds to cover the anticipated $125,000 budget.

A Spirit of Giving

A generous $50,000 donation made some years earlier by benevolent parishioner Ray Simpkin, provided the initial seeding money, however the committee required a substantial top-up to meet the financial target. An appeal was made to each of the partner churches for support in prayer and/or finance. The Methodist Church of New Zealand, along with the other denominational parent bodies, responded generously to the request.

“They all recognised the value of the active outreach programme we were proposing. They trusted us and gave generously,” Teresa says. The local congregation contributed to the fundraising efforts with creative endeavours that included selling Devonshire teas and barbequed sausages at market days.

Local builder, Andy Kilgallon, was contracted early to tackle the construction. The six building companies on the island are all in big demand, therefore securing a contractor and booking in a window for construction was a high priority. Teresa and her committee worked with a local architect, Cuan Forsyth-King to finalise plans and manage compliance and consent details.

Teresa agrees that the geographical distance from the Auckland Council compliance officers did compound some of the project management difficulties, favouring email or phone communications over face-to-face meetings, thereby saving time and money. Getting from The Barrier to Auckland city is time-consuming by ferry and costly by air. A car and passenger ferry makes the 5-hour crossing every Friday and Sunday. Daily flights to and from Auckland take just 40 minutes and cost approximately $320 return.

However, Covid was ultimately responsible for the delays and cost increases that have hampered the renovation. “Covid-19 lockdown restrictions caused delays in every area. Time and cost over-runs, supply chain disruptions, the shortage of materials like GIB board, increased material costs, and lack of bookings for Medland Haven have impacted the project and our church income streams,” Teresa says.

Timeline Disrupted by Covid

Building started in late 2021 and Andy Kilgallon and his team have skillfully managed setbacks and delays caused by lockdowns and the constraints of Covid in the interim. The project that was originally estimated to take six months has now been in the pipeline for two years, with no immediate end in sight. The original budget has been spent and although the building is water-proof and lockable, much of the interior work is unfinished.

A generous grant recently received from the Auckland community board has covered some of the shortfall. Teresa has compartmentalised the work outstanding – plastering, plumbing and gas, electrical works, painting and flooring – into segments that will be completed as money allows. She estimates by the time the entire project is complete it will have cost almost twice the original estimate of $125,000. Teresa and her team are optimistic that extra funds will be found.

In November 2011, at a joint service to celebrate 25 years of interdenominational worship at the church, Methodist presbyter Rev Peter Stead said, “Here the Gospel has faithfully been proclaimed and Jesus Christ – God’s living word – joyfully encountered.” More than a decade on, that positive and faith-filled attitude influences and inspires those involved in the project.

“The Methodist Church and our other partner churches were very generous almost two years ago and we thought we were well on track. Everyone has shown great patience and trust in the Lord and we rejoice that work has started. However, God has His own timeline and has always come to our rescue so we stay positive,” Teresa says.