Ngāi Tara were among the earliest residents of Te-Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. By the 17th century, Ngāti Ira, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu also occupied parts of the region. From 1822 to 1834, during a period of upheaval, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga moved south from the Taranaki region. There are multiple signs of occupation between the summit of Tangi Te Keo/Mt Victoria, and the shoreline once known as Te Akau-tangi, including hut sites and terrace formations. A 1916 map marks a pā site, Akautangi, at the junction of Vallance Street with Kilbirnie Crescent, 500 metres south of the present All Saints Church. Iwi and hapu associations of these sites are unstated.
In 1841 the area was purchased by Robert Jenkins and converted to hill pasture for farming, and the area became known as the ‘Jenkins Estate’. The land upon which the present All Saints Church stands was donated by ex-naval officer James Coutts Crawford in 1878. When the area was subdivided in 1901, it was given the present name of Hataitai.
The church was the second built on the site, the former being a simple wooden structure constructed in 1894. After being enlarged in 1910, it was soon agreed that a new church building was necessary to accommodate the growing Anglican community in the area. The church was designed by architect Frederick de Jersey Clere, known for the more than 100 churches he designed for the Wellington Anglican Diocese from 1883. The foundation stone was laid on 5 November 1927 by His Excellency, Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson. The church was completed in September 1928 at the cost of £7,100 by contractor W. Husband. All Saints was opened on 14 September 1928, officiated by the Bishop of Wellington T.H. Sprott, and consecrated on 11 November 1928.
The building follows a cruciform apsidal floor plan (386 m2) with a clerestory roof, and a hipped dormer over the northwest entrance. There is a square parapeted tower on the southwest corner with a forecourt entrance and six spires. Four finial crosses are located at each gable apex. The structure has a shingled clerestory and is constructed in English bond style brick interspersed with lancet windows. The symmetrical interior has a central nave, side aisles, and a Jarrah timber trussed rafter roof. With seating for up to 400 people the church incorporates a Lady Chapel and vestries in the north and south transepts. The design as noted by Clere was based on a small brick church from Sussex, England.
In 1929 gas central heating was added to the church. A three-inch rise was built into the pulpit in 1935 to accommodate the stature of the then Reverend Jones David. In 1936, steps and brick terracing were added leading from Moxham Ave, and in 1937 toilets were added. Between 1951 and 1973, 31 stained glass windows were installed around the building, most of which were funded by parishioners. In 2018 following a low earthquake safety rating services were moved from the church into the neighbouring All Saints conference centre.


List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1331
Date Entered
10th September 1981
Date of Effect
10th September 1981
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Pt Lot 44 DP 65 (RT WNA2/869), Wellington Land District, and the building known as All Saints Church (Anglican and Methodist) thereon. Extent does not include the All Saints Conference Centre.
Legal description
Pt Lot 44 DP 65 (RT WNA2/869), Wellington Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1331
Date Entered
10th September 1981
Date of Effect
10th September 1981
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Pt Lot 44 DP 65 (RT WNA2/869), Wellington Land District, and the building known as All Saints Church (Anglican and Methodist) thereon. Extent does not include the All Saints Conference Centre.
Legal description
Pt Lot 44 DP 65 (RT WNA2/869), Wellington Land District
Construction Professional
Name
Clere, Frederick De Jersey
Type
Architect
Biography
Clere (1856-1952) was born in Lancashire, the son of an Anglican clergyman, and was articled to Edmund Scott, an ecclesiastical architect of Brighton. He then became chief assistant to R J Withers, a London architect. Clere came to New Zealand in 1877, practising first in Feilding and then in Wanganui. He later came to Wellington and practised there for 58 years. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1886 and held office for 50 years as one of four honorary secretaries in the Empire. In 1883 he was appointed Diocesan Architect of the Anglican Church; he designed more than 100 churches while he held this position. Clere was a pioneer in reinforced concrete construction; the outstanding example of his work with this material is the Church of St Mary of the Angels (1922), Wellington. As well as being pre-eminent in church design, Clere was responsible for many domestic and commercial buildings including Wellington's Harbour Board Offices and Bond Store (1891) and Overton in Marton. Clere was also involved in the design of large woolsheds in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. He was active in the formation of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and served on their council for many years. He was a member of the Wellington City Council until 1895, and from 1900 a member of the Wellington Diocesan Synod and the General Synod. He was also a member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.
Name
W. Husband
Type
Builder
Biography
Construction Details
Start Year
1935
Type
Modification
Description
Pulpit altered
Start Year
1936
Type
Modification
Description
/ Steps and brick terracing constructed from Moxham Avenue entrance
Start Year
1937
Type
Modification
Description
Toilets added
Start Year
1951
Finish Year
1973
Type
Modification
Description
31 stained glass windows installed
Start Year
1928
Type
Original Construction
Construction Professional
Name
Clere, Frederick De Jersey
Type
Architect
Biography
Clere (1856-1952) was born in Lancashire, the son of an Anglican clergyman, and was articled to Edmund Scott, an ecclesiastical architect of Brighton. He then became chief assistant to R J Withers, a London architect. Clere came to New Zealand in 1877, practising first in Feilding and then in Wanganui. He later came to Wellington and practised there for 58 years. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1886 and held office for 50 years as one of four honorary secretaries in the Empire. In 1883 he was appointed Diocesan Architect of the Anglican Church; he designed more than 100 churches while he held this position. Clere was a pioneer in reinforced concrete construction; the outstanding example of his work with this material is the Church of St Mary of the Angels (1922), Wellington. As well as being pre-eminent in church design, Clere was responsible for many domestic and commercial buildings including Wellington's Harbour Board Offices and Bond Store (1891) and Overton in Marton. Clere was also involved in the design of large woolsheds in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. He was active in the formation of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and served on their council for many years. He was a member of the Wellington City Council until 1895, and from 1900 a member of the Wellington Diocesan Synod and the General Synod. He was also a member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.
Name
W. Husband
Type
Builder
Biography
Construction Details
Start Year
1935
Type
Modification
Description
Pulpit altered
Start Year
1936
Type
Modification
Description
/ Steps and brick terracing constructed from Moxham Avenue entrance
Start Year
1937
Type
Modification
Description
Toilets added
Start Year
1951
Finish Year
1973
Type
Modification
Description
31 stained glass windows installed
Start Year
1928
Type
Original Construction
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
26th July 2022
Report Written By
Laura Westphal
Information Sources
Maclean, 2003
S. Mclean, Architect of the Angels; the churches of Frederick de Jersey Clere, Wellington, 2003
Bell, 1977
Francis Bell, All Saints Church Hataitai-Kilbirnie: Jubilee History, All Saints Parish Council, Wellington, 1977
Bell, 1994
Francis Bell, All Saints Church, Hataitai-Kilbirnie: Continuing the Story, All Saints Parish Council, Wellington, 1994
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A fully referenced copy of the upgrade report is available on request from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
26th July 2022
Report Written By
Laura Westphal
Information Sources
Maclean, 2003
S. Mclean, Architect of the Angels; the churches of Frederick de Jersey Clere, Wellington, 2003
Bell, 1977
Francis Bell, All Saints Church Hataitai-Kilbirnie: Jubilee History, All Saints Parish Council, Wellington, 1977
Bell, 1994
Francis Bell, All Saints Church, Hataitai-Kilbirnie: Continuing the Story, All Saints Parish Council, Wellington, 1994
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A fully referenced copy of the upgrade report is available on request from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Current Usages
Uses: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Former Usages
General Usage: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Current Usages
Uses: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Former Usages
General Usage: Religion
Specific Usage: Church
Location
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