Iona Church

Be so cool when this is a church again :)

Pretty but modestly decorated church.

Gorgeous ChurchUnfortunately closed to the public

Beautiful place to visit, interesting church and depending kn the hour, very calm time you can find eith a great moment and view.

A great building, of classic Dunedin style. Well, like First Church, anyway. Under restoration, so you can't go inside, but I don't think points are lost for restoring such a gem. A gorgeous building.

On Sunday 15 October 1848 Reverend Thomas Burns travelled by boat to Port Chalmers to hold the first onshore service at the port. It was held in a hotel room. In 1850 Dr Purdie of Dunedin began holding regular services at Port Chalmers.The need for a church building was apparent and with the generous help of the members of the First Church Congregation and Port Chalmers settler of various denominations, a wooden church was erected in 1852 on land which had been held in reserve since 1846. This was the second church to be built in Otago and the third in the South Island. It was not always possible to arrange for a Presbyterian preacher in those early days and the church was made available to preachers of other denominations including the Church of England and the Methodist Church.In 1857 Port Chalmers became a separate parish with Reverend Thomas Burns as moderator. In 1858 Reverend William Johnstone became the first minister. The parish extended to the Waitaki River and included Otago Peninsula.The wooden church gradually became too small. Plans for a new and larger stone church were produced by NYA Wales. The foundation stone was laid about August 1871 and the building was opened by Reverends Dr Stuart and William Will on 7 January 1872. The congregation continued to grow and a gallery was added in the mid-late 1870s.This proved to be a temporary solution and further plans were made for additional space. The additions of 1882-83 effectively created a new church. It was opened on 25 November 1883. The town clock was installed by Little John & Co of Wellington c1885.The Port Chalmers Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches were amalgamated c1963 and some ten years later the district became a full Union parish.Historical Significance or ValueThe site now occupied by Iona Union Church was held in reserve since 1846. An earlier (1852) wooden church was the second church in Otago and the third in the South Island. It was significant in the settlement of Otago by the Free Church of Scotland. Iona Union Church has historical associations with this settlement. Iona Union Church replaced the early wooden building and has accommodated Presbyterians since its opening in 1872. It now has a wider place in the community as a Union church.ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY:Comprising an early building (1871-72) and a substantial addition made some ten years later (1882-83), Iona Union Church succeeds in being an integrated and coherent whole. It is a fine example of an ecclesiastical building constructed of stone in the Early English Gothic Revival style. Constructional polychromy emphasises the Gothic Revival styling of the building. The detailing is of a very high standard. Such is the architectural quality of this building that it has in the past been attributed to Robert Lawson. Now thought to have been designed by Thomas Stevenson, it is the only known example of his work and is evidence of the skill of this young architect.TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE:The church is enhanced by the bush covered hills which form a backdrop. With its tall spire and its position on a hill above the town of Port Chalmers, this building is a prominent one and can be described as having some landmark value.

A pretty impressive church for a small town, build in Gothic Revival style, much like the Knox and University of Otago in North Dunedin. However it appears that the church is currency undergoing renovation and is not open to public. The neighbourhood is very friendly, more specifically the two cats that lives opposite the church, one of which followed us halfway up the town belt.

Beautiful surroundings.impressive architecture.

Beautiful church. Lovely surrounding gardens. Lovely views. Close to town.

Stunning old church, unfortunately closed for restoration.