Source: Radio New Zealand
Potential new owners for Wellington’s historic Erskine Chapel have until Thursday afternoon to put in their bids to buy the chapel.
The building which is part of the former Erskine College is being sold by developers The Wellington Company.
The French Gothic-style chapel which was built in 1929-30 is listed as a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place and recognised in the Wellington City Council Heritage List.
The chapel sits on the site of the former Erskine College in Island Bay and was designed by John Sydney Swan.
The chapel is considered to be New Zealand’s finest French Gothic-style chapel, influenced heavily by a chapel in Alsace Lorraine, France. It features a soaring vaulted ceiling and an interior of Italian Carrara marble.
The Wellington Company purchased the buildings in disrepair in 2000.
In 2018 the Environment Court ruled the company could demolish the school buildings, but not the chapel – which had to be saved and strengthened.
It has since been restored to the tune of $7 million and is now an event space.
Erskine Chapel is listed as a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Venue manager Kate Spencer said the chapel had hosted all sorts of events from weddings and funerals through to a recent fashion show, Christmas parties and choir performances.
But although the star of the show, the chapel only made up part of the building.
“We also have the nunnery where the nuns lived which is next door to the chapel and downstairs we have the ballroom which was the library for the girls’ school,” Spencer told RNZ during a tour of the building.
Spencer said movies such as The Frighteners had also been filmed there.
RNZ / Mark Papalii
For any potential buyer, one of the considerations will be the building’s heritage status.
Jamie Jacobs director central region for Heritage New Zealand said the building was protected in two ways.
He said it was scheduled in the Wellington District Plan as a heritage building.
Under the Resource Management Act, the site, he said was also under a heritage protection order that was held by the Save Erskine College Trust.
He said as such any major changes or work to the building would have to go through both the council and the trust.
The chapel was built in 1929-30 in French Gothic style. RNZ / Mark Papalii
The Wellington Company director of property Sam Hooper said there had been around 60 expressions of interest in the building since it went on sale.
“The way I’ve always sort of seen who might pick this up will be someone who either has been part of the chapel, either an old girl from the school … someone from Island Bay who’s seen it growing up, or someone who’s into events, weddings, looking, creating really cool spaces, or philanthropists who just love sort of heirloom assets.”
He said there was also opportunity for a church to take it over again.
“It is deconsecrated at the moment, but it can be reconsecrated,” he said. “We are in discussion with a couple of churches who are certainly looking at it.”
Meanwhile, in a statement the Save Erskine College Trust said it was hoping for a successful transition of guardianship.
“Erskine College remains a vital part of the Island Bay and wider community, including Erskine Chapel and the remnant Reverend Mother’s Garden. Along with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Wellington City Council, we hope for a successful transition in ownership and kaitiakitanga.”
Erskine Chapel is currently desconsecrated, but it could be reconsecrated. RNZ / Mark Papalii
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
