Why is this place significant?

Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?

The former Moray Place Congregational Church is one of the oldest churches still standing in Dunedin. The Church occupies a prominent corner site in the centre of Dunedin. It was designed by prominent Dunedin architect David Ross and was opened for worship in July 1864. For over 100 years it served the Congregationalist Church congregation as a place of worship. Discussion about the building of a church for a Congregational Church began in October 1862 with a meeting at Clark's Temperance Hotel, George Street. The first service was held the following Sunday in the Oddfellows Hall on George Street. The section on the corner of Moray Place and View Street was purchased in August 1863. As the result of assistance of visiting Australian clergyman Rev. J. L. Poore in 1863, a call was made to the pastorate for a clergyman, with Rev. Richard Connebee answering. Connebee arrived in October 1863 to find that plans for a church were underway. With Rev. Connebee's arrival, plans pushed forward. The foundation stone was laid on 22 March 1864. The church was opened for worship on 3 July 1864. The preachers were Rev. J.L Parsons, a Baptist Minister, and Rev. Dr Stuart Knox (from Knox Presbyterian Church). Rev. Connebee resigned in 1868. It was not until 1871 that another settled pastorate was arranged for. In that year Rev. Dr Roseby was appointed and held the position for 14 years, playing an influential role in the growing community - he was a member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, and lectured on astronomical subjects, he suggested to congregation member Mr Shacklock, the name 'Orion' for his new stove. Toward the end of 1885 Rev. Dr Roseby moved to Ballarat. In the mid 1870s the American organ was replaced by a pipe organ. In 1876 the entrance was shifted from View Street to Moray Place, and a stone steps, balustrading and handrails, designed by Robert Arthur Lawson was constructed. Dr Roseby was succeeded by Rev. J.E. Kelly, who resigned after only two years because of ill health. Rev. W. Saunders replaced Kelly in 1890, holding this position for thirty eight years. On the retirement of Rev. Saunders, Rev. Albert Mean was appointed in 1928. Mead had served as a chaplain on the Western Front, and was a Cambridge graduate. Prominent early church members included Mr and Mrs J.W. Jago. Mr Jago was the manager of the Evening Star for 30 years, and a well known campaigner for prohibition, Mr and Mrs Shacklock (the stove maker), and Judge Bathgate. Peter Barr, an accountant and prominent member of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, managed the Church's finances. Church membership reached its peak about 300 in around 1912. By the 1930s membership stood at around 200. The congregation was noted for its devoted band of women workers. The Church focused on the intellectual as well as spiritual needs of the congregation, forming a Mutual Improvement Association which lasted over 25 years, and began under Rev. Dr Roseby's ministry. The Church was also characterised by its evangelical zeal and sense of responsibility for its inner city mission. A town missionary was first appointed in 1865, Mr James Macfie held that position till his death 18 years later, visiting the inner city area, the Hospital and Benevolent Institution, as well as fund raising for relief of poor conditions. A honorary sister was appointed in 1906, and later a deaconess. In the 1930s Sister Lillian undertook to distribute goods and funds to needy families, and the hall was opened as a reading and rest room for unemployed, with light refreshments provided. The church was a strong supporter of the Presbyterian Social Service Association. By the 1930s the church was faced with problems common to other city churches - a scattered population in the widening suburbs. In the twentieth century the Congregationalist church declined, partly because it had no rural base. The congregationalists were involved in negotiations for union involving Methodists, Presbyterians and the Associated Churches of Christ from the 1950s. In 1969 two-thirds of the New Zealand Congregational Churches formally joined the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Moray Place congregation merged with First Church in 1964-66 - with membership of about 100 worshippers at that time. By the 1980s the Seventh Day Adventist congregation no longer found the church building fitted their needs, and parking in the central city was becoming a problem. In 1992 the church and hall were put up for sale, with the Seventh Day Adventist congregation planning to relocate to larger premises. Through the 1990s the building housed commercial premises, including a café, and an interior design business. The building is currently used as for residential purposes.

The Moray Place Congregational Church stands on a steeply sloped site on the northern corner of View Street and Moray Place. The Church has stone foundations built to house basement meeting rooms, with the brick body of the church on the upper level. The original entrance was to View Street. The building had a slate roof. The east elevation originally had a small vestibule entry central placed on View Street, and flanked by buttresses and narrow pointed windows. The south elevation to Moray Place features a large gothic stained glass window flanked by a pair of narrow lancet windows. The later additions include the larger vestry to View Street with crenellated pediments and turrets at both corners, the stone steps and balustrades to Moray Place, and turrets matching those of the vestry on the Moray Place elevation. At the time of its construction the floor space of the church measures 70 feet by 35 feet (21.3 by 10.6m), with a gallery to the Moray Place frontage. It was designed to seat 650. The roof is carried on moulded timber trusses supported on wooden corbels, finished in oak brown. Facing the gallery were the pulpit, organ and choir stalls. In front of the choir stalls was the communion table. The pulpit was panelled with turned and moulded brackets of kauri. The choir was surrounded by a rail of polished kauri with Gothic turned pillars. The communion table was of fumed oak, and was a gift from the women of the church. There was a hall underneath the church in which Sunday School and meetings were held. In 1876 the entrance was shifted from View Street to Moray Place, and a stone steps, balustrading and handrails, designed by Robert Arthur Lawson was constructed. In the 1880s the brick exterior was plastered. There were seven memorial windows in the church. On the north side, three windows commemorate Mr J. Begg and his son drowned at Purakanui donated by Mrs Begg, Mr J. A. Ewen donated by his wife, and Mr and Mrs Forsyth donated by their children; on the south side there are four windows - to the memory of Mrs Margaret McKechnie gifted by her family, Mr James and Mrs Jean McGill by their family, Mr J.W. Jago from his family, and a memorial to those who fill in World War I. A memorial window was added in the 1930s to commemorate the long ministry of Mr and Mrs Saunders. These windows were removed when the congregation merged with First Church in 1966, and were installed in Moray Hall at First Church. The church was renovated in the 1930s. The external plaster was removed and replaced with white cement mortar. The slate roof was repaired, the roof ventilators, and the gutters and spouting renewed. A central heating system was installed. The old wooden fence was replaced with a new iron one with ornamental gates. In the 1960s the interior was modified, new pews replaced the originals, and the walls were relined. Some original features were retained during that period - the high vaulted ceiling, the gallery and the stained glass windows. The balustrade in the front of the gallery may also be original, and the supporting metal columns are also original.

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A fully referenced version of this report is available from the NZHPT Otago/Southland Area Office 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.