Christ Church

Christ Church is Wellington's oldest church, this tiny wooden building has been a place of worship, celebration and refuge and a final resting place for many who have lived and worked in Wellington and the Valley.

In 1853, Taita had just over 30 households. Many of these pioneer families are buried in the churchyard. Their names - Avery, Boulcott, Buck, Daysh, Harris, Hooper, Hirst, Kemble, Mabey, Peck, Percy, Riddler, Welch and Matangi (the son of a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi) are still well known in the Hutt Valley.

Christ Church was the catalyst for Parliament deciding to pass the Historic Places Act (1954) and the later formation of the Historic Places Trust. This was the first time New Zealanders had lobbied to save an historic building. The Church and graveyard are now both a memorial to the faith and determination of the settler families and local Maori and to the vision of those who have worked for its preservation.

Christ Church is still a consecrated church and is frequently used for, weddings, baptisms and funerals, in addition to special services arranged by the Preservation Society. The church was internally damaged by fire in 1989 and subsequently restored to its original specifications. The cost was met by insurance and extensive fundraising carried out by the Preservation Society. 

Christ Church is listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category 1 historic place.

For more information contact:

Christ Church
Taita
Ph: 0800 282 482
Fax: +64 4 475 6102
info@christ-church.org.nz
www.christ-church.org.nz