Areas needing urgent attention were the exterior woodwork and paint and the stained glass windows. The adjacent hall facilities are in a similar state of disrepair. In addition both buildings require seismic strengthening as per the building code.

The church has no easily accessible toilets or under cover foyer or gathering area where people can fellowship.

As our church seeks to outreach into the community we want to provide good, cohesive office and toilet facilities for our secretary, clergy, youth and children’s ministers and a comfortable, welcoming and warm environment for all who come to worship, mourn, celebrate, counsel and fellowship.

We have decided to address these issues by -

1.      Restoring the Church building.

2.      Incorporating offices, toilets and a meeting foyer/entry in a new building which will link the church and the hall.

3.      Upgrading the hall kitchen facilities to meet health requirements.

4.      At the same time achieving the required seismic strengthening.

Architects, McDonald Horton have developed a concept and plan which we believe will be a worthy complement to the architectural heritage of the church and a legacy of which our descendants will be equally as proud.

The cost of this work is considerable

Restoration is estimated at up to $360,000.

The new linking addition is estimated at $950,000.

Seismic strengthening is as yet unknown but may be as high as $150,000.

Total development costs to complete the project are estimated $1,500,000.

Funds

Currently we have $800,000 pledged or in hand.

Timeline

The work will be staged:

In May 2008 the exterior restoration was completed.

With the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone in 29 June 2009, Our goal is to lay a new foundation stone for stage two - the new administration and fellowship centre in our sesquicentannary year.

The Parish is confident that the architects McDonald Horton have developed a concept and plan which will be a worthy complement to the architectural heritage of the church, and a legacy of which the local community will be equally as proud.

Parish vicar, Andrew Allan-Johns, is hugely excited about the venture, “The buildings have served the mission of our church for many years but our facilities are no longer as functional as we would like, to meet future needs. We are living in times of enormous change, so as we look to the future we need to look at the things that are essential. Our project will not only restore the historical uniqueness of St John's, but will also provide us with great facilities to serve as a base for serving Rangiora and beyond and to welcome those who come into our buildings.