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Another church for sale because of dwindling and ageing congregation

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

A church on Auckland’s North Shore has been put on the market. It is the latest of a a number of churches that have been closed or sold in recent years because of declining church attendance and changes in the worshipping habits of those who do go to church. In February this year, for example , there were 9 churches on the market.

The Castor Bay Presbyterian Church is being disposed of after its dwindling and ageing congregation accepted it was impractical to keep it. Reverend Don Hall says the 15 remaining parishioners, who range in age from 60 to 80, will join a nearby church in Mairangi Bay.

The church, which has ocean views and sits beside a separate hall on a 1133sq m block of prime real estate valued at $1.125 million, could be turned into a family home or removed for a new building.
Dr Geoff Troughton, a lecturer in religious studies at Victoria University in Wellington, said there was a lot of mobility between religions and churches had to compete to attract people.

“The more popular churches these days typically offer a wide range of services and activities and can be very busy centres,” he said.

“Rather than seeking to maintain a presence in every suburb, the older denominations are often pooling resources in order to meet this demand.

“In some ways there is a lot of competition out there – but churches are also choosing not to compete everywhere.”

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