In an ironic twist, a US Baptist pastor internationally known for scholarly articles on the decline of religion has just had to close his own church for lack of parishioners. Pastor Ryan Burge (pictured) knows closing churches is common these days. Many US churches close each year. But, given that he has been documenting the Read more
The café is a place where I not only find a drink and a croissant but also the convenience of somewhere to write. In so many ways, it has replaced the pub as a meeting place, a stop-off point for anyone and everyone to pause a while over a hot coffee, to read or have Read more
Cardinal John Dew, June, announced that St Joseph’s Catholic church at Riversdale Beach would be sold along with three other churches in the Wairarapa. Since then, consultations have taken place between the cardinal and the Riversdale Beach Charitable Trust about the church’s status. According to Trustee Neil Prichard, a sale was unlikely to happen. He Read more
A service celebrated the beginning and the end of a rural church. Sacred Heart Whangamomona church is celebrating 100 years on Saturday – but the Mass to celebrate the centenary was the final service at the church. Read more
Ongoing health and safety concerns have forced the closure of a Catholic church in the Wellington suburb of Newlands. Parishioners of St Andrew’s Church were notified during Sunday mass on June 25 that from the following day their place of worship would be closed indefinitely. Read more
West Coasters are being encouraged to attend Mass in Ross on 9 August so as to save 149 year old St Patrick’s church from closure. St Patrick’s is the only church left in the town. The church was built in 1866, within a year of the discovery of gold at Ross. It is a category Read more
Holy Family Parish in Timaru has decided, that if Bishop Jones approves, St Joseph’s church in Douglas St will sold. The Holy Family parish was formed in 2012 by combining two Timaru parishes, Timaru North and Sacred Heart There are two churches in what was formally Timaru North, St Thomas the Apostle and St Joseph’s. Read more
Sir Tony Baldry, who represents the Church of England in the Commons, said dozens of parish churches were facing potential closure because of the crippling cost of dealing with bat infestations. He told MPs that bat droppings were causing serious damage to medieval wall paintings, sculptures and wooden effigies – as well as posing a Read more
A landmark Newtown church deemed to be an earthquake risk will shut its doors due to dwindling worshippers and rising insurance premiums.
The original St James Presbyterian Church was built in 1882 and replaced with the current wooden building on Adelaide Rd in the early 1900s opposite Wellington Hospital.
Read the article...