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 2 listed building with Heritage New Zealand.

It is also the oldest wooden building on the Coast.

And it is the second oldest church in the Christchurch diocese, after Akaroa.

But last year, parishioner numbers fell to just three, raising concerns for its future.

The Bishop of Christchurch, Barry Jones, will celebrate Mass in the the Church on 9 august as part of a diocesan visit to Westland.

Parishioner Biddy Manera said the more people who could attend that Mass, the better to show the significance of the church to the community.

Manera said while Mass numbers were not high at Ross, members of the Kokatahi-Kowhitirangi congregation, as well as visitors, often joined the twice-monthly Masses.

"Visitors do use it and people who come and stay in holiday homes come too, even people from other denominations because it is the only church in Ross — we don't turn anyone away."

Manera is a local historian and has a particular interest in the Chinese gold miners and their families who came to Ross from Guangdong Province in the 1870s.

Recently she's won the battle to buy back the Ross Cemetery after she discovered that in 2008, the Westland District Council mistakenly sold part of the Cemetery that included unmarked graves.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz

Churches around the country are shutting their doors as congregations and funds dwindle, and ageing buildings need seismic strengthening.

More and more old churches are being converted into cafes, craft shops, offices and homes.

Heritage New Zealand said of nearly 200,000 non-residential buildings, 45 percent were earthquake prone.

Chief Executive Bruce Chapman said churches were disproportionately represented because of their heritage values and their age.

"It's likely that quite a high percentage of our larger churches in New Zealand, those of unreinforced masonry, are likely to be earthquake-prone."

Chapman said low attendance meant many smaller churches were likely to face demolition because of an inability to raise money.

"We're finding around the country that many of the churches have reducing congregations, and an inability to sustain even basic maintenance, let alone earthquake strengthening."

He said many church buildings had been adapted into residential properties, restaurants and open space offices.

St David's Presbyterian church in Khyber Pass, Auckland, closed last December, and faces possible demolition.

The Friends of St David's Trust have initiated a project that they hope will help prevent the demolition of St David's.

Trust founder Paul Baragwanath said the 'Art of Remembrance' project, which decorates the face of the church, aimed to raise awareness about the soldiers' memorial church's role in the community.

He said while the church was at risk of demolition, it could survive if there was enough community support.

If successful the church will continue in its role as a community church for regular services, weddings, funerals and baptisms, and also as a national war memorial.

It would also be available to the community as a meeting place and as quiet place for people to visit during the working day.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• saintdavidsfriends.org.nz
• Image: pedfieldcountryhouse.co.nz