Old St. Paul's, Wellington (must see)

Old Saint Paul’s was completed and consecrated in 1866, it served for nearly a century as both the parish church for Thorndon and the pro-cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington. Although regular parish worship moved to the new Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul in 1964, Old Saint Paul’s remains a consecrated heritage site and is now managed by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

The church was designed by the Reverend Frederick Thatcher, then vicar of Saint Paul’s in Thorndon, in the Gothic Revival style. Built largely from native New Zealand timbers, it has a modest exterior of steep roofs, pointed windows, and a small spire. Inside, the building becomes far more dramatic, with dark timber arches and exposed beams often compared to the upturned hull of a wooden ship. Later additions expanded the original plan: Christian Julius Toxward designed the south transept in 1868, the north transept and north aisle extension in 1874, and probably the choir vestry in 1882.

Old Saint Paul’s also has an important preservation story. After the Anglican diocese shifted to the new cathedral, the old church faced possible demolition. Public concern helped save it, and the New Zealand Government purchased the building in 1967 before restoring it. This campaign became part of New Zealand’s wider heritage-preservation movement, helping secure the future of one of the country’s finest timber Gothic churches.

Today, visitors come for the craftsmanship, stained-glass windows, memorial plaques, and quiet atmosphere. Flags displayed in the nave represent the Royal Navy, the New Zealand Merchant Navy, and the United States Marine Corps, reflecting military connections, including Wellington’s wartime links. The walls and columns also carry memorial plaques, many dedicated to those who served and died in World War I. Now it is used as a historic site and event venue.