All Saints’ Church Celebrates 160 Years with Restoration Efforts

All Saints’ Church in Dunedin proudly commemorated its 160th anniversary last year, marking a significant milestone for a structure that has served multiple roles in its community since its establishment in 1865. As the chapel for Selwyn College and the parish church for North Dunedin, All Saints’ is a hub for cultural and musical events, and is well-known for its popular All Saints’ Fruit & Veges scheme.

Canon Dr. Michael Wallace, the vicar of All Saints’, expressed pride in the church’s rich heritage and its classification as a rare example of Gothic revival architecture with Heritage New Zealand Category 1 status. The church was the first project undertaken by the architectural firm Mason & Wales, and its preservation reflects a deep commitment to maintaining local history.

Celebrations and Community Engagement

To celebrate the anniversary, All Saints’ organized several events that honored its legacy. These included commissioning a new musical piece from local composer Prof. Anthony Ritchie and creating limited edition woodcuts by Dunedin artist Manu Berry. The funds raised from these woodcuts are earmarked for ongoing restoration efforts. Additionally, the church instituted the George R. West Prize, awarded annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to music at All Saints’.

Rather than opting for demolition, parish members made a concerted effort to stabilize the existing church structure. This involved removing the slate roof, replacing Oamaru stone pillars with concrete, and installing “ties” for enhanced structural integrity. Canon Wallace commended this decision, stating, “It was great foresight on their part to preserve the history of this place, which remains so important to the church and wider communities today.”

Restoration Plans and Community Use

All Saints’ Church serves as a venue for various local and visiting groups, hosting musicians for performances, choirs for rehearsals, and organists who utilize the church’s historic 1877 Bevington & Sons pipe organ. The church hall is a versatile space, accommodating events ranging from rangers meetings to laughter yoga sessions.

The church also boasts a significant collection of stained glass windows, including a commemorative piece by local artists Jenna Park and Peter Mackenzie, dedicated to Arnold Spencer Smith, an Antarctic explorer who was part of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s trans-Antarctic expedition.

Restoration efforts are underway, with collaboration from Heritage New Zealand and the Dunedin City Council. Key areas identified for restoration include the roof, which requires a return to slate, as well as repairs to spouting, drains, walls, and electrical wiring. Canon Wallace indicated that the restoration costs are expected to reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“A lot of the work that is needed is the kind of ongoing care and restoration needed in any historic building — it is just a fact of life,” Wallace noted. “Overall, the building is in pretty good condition; it just needs some attention in places.”

The ongoing efforts to maintain All Saints’ Church reflect a commitment to preserving the cultural and historical significance of the structure for future generations, ensuring that it continues to serve its community for years to come.