The earthquake of St Andrew’s Church in New Plymouth proved fit for worship in the future

Andy Jackson / Stuff

St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in New Plymouth reopened its doors for service on Sunday after the strength of the earthquake. From left: Chairman of the Board of Trustees Malcolm Kenoh, Director of the Bureau Angie Orsborn, and Reverend Kevin Harris.

A $ 900,000 restoration project has been completed to upgrade St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in New Plymouth to the National Earthquake Strengthening Level.

But devotees who gather to reopen services in the 90-year-old Gothic-style building on Sunday will be hard-pressed to notice any changes.

Malcolm Quinnoh, Chair of the St Andrew’s Board of Trustees and a retired architect, said the shoring work, using carbon fiber sheets, or bandages, across the middle section of three walls, is now covered with new plaster and paint work.

He said the carbon fiber bandages three meters wide by seven meters wide would bring the building, on average, 85 percent of the National Building Code to earthquake risk.

Kino said that despite an engineer’s report that showed the church exceeded 67 percent of its earthquake risk rating, the council decided to increase the seismic rating of the Class II Heritage Building, including the adjacent hall, even more.

Read more: * The Levin community feels saddened by the demolition of the earthquake-prone St. Mary’s Church * A church is offered to the city council as a community hub * Presbyterian parishes close church doors as a result of seismic assessments * Inside the earthquake stiffeners at St Marys of the Angels Church

Buildings greater than 67 percent are unlikely to collapse in an earthquake.

He said the report showed that the outer cladding of the andesite stone was safe and there was no need for anchoring with nails.

Strengthening the Church and Auditorium from Earthquake, constructed in 1952, is the first phase of a $ 1.5 million project to renovate both buildings including repainting the interior walls, improving lighting, and replacing seats with benches.

Andy Jackson / Stuff

The interior of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, New Plymouth, has been reinforced with carbon fiber sheets placed behind the stucco walls.

During the second phase of the project, a commercial kitchen will be installed in the hall to teach cooking skills, and it will be hired for jobs.

The project was funded in part by the sale of church-owned property in New Plymouth, and a $ 25,000 Heritage Grant from New Plymouth County Council.

About $ 400,000 still needs to be raised to complete the entire work.

Reverend Kevin Harris said the church and hall were used by as many as 26 community groups for a range of purposes, from choir, concerts and organ concerts to Pacifica wellness classes and blood donation.

“The vision of the Church wishes to make a contribution not only in providing a place of worship and religious service, but to making a social, pastoral, economic and cultural contribution to the city and Taranaki,” he said.

Andy Jackson / Stuff

The chair of St Andrew’s Board of Trustees in New Plymouth, Malcolm Kenoh (left), with Reverend Kevin Harris inside the church that reinforced the earthquake.

“The best way to do this is to provide a space for worship, and another area that can be used by groups for conferences, jobs, and job skills training.”

The church, built in 1932 on a prominent ridge near the city center, was designed by Frederick de Jersey Clare and replaced the former Presbyterian churches that had been in Devon Street since 1866.

In 2013, St Andrew’s spent $ 500,000 on major restorations to restore stained-glass windows and repair cracked walls and tower and spire roofs.

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