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HomePrivacyTerms and conditionsAbout this site
© Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 2026.
 
Chalmers Church

2 Elizabeth Place and Sophia Street, TIMARU

Private

Historic Place Category 2

List No. 7107

Quick links:
List GalleryLocationDetails
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Proposal for Classification report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.

Designed by James Turnbull and built in 1903, Chalmers Church is an example of a sizeable Gothic Revival church constructed in plastered brick. It was Timaru's second Presbyterian church building, built by a breakaway group when the local congregation was divided over prohibition. Chalmers Church gradually became the centre for Presbyterian worship in Timaru. The earlier Trinity Church (1876) has been demolished.
Chalmers Church, Timaru. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Shellie Evans - flyingkiwigirl | 02/12/2013 | Shellie Evans
Chalmers Church, Timaru. CC BY 2.0 Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | itravelNZ® - New Zealand in your pocket™ | 30/05/2012 | itravelNZ® - Wikimedia Commons
Chalmers Church, Timaru. One of the many beautiful stained glass windows | 27/08/2008 | Chalmers Church, Timaru
Chalmers Church, Timaru. Image courtesy of www.flickr.com | Shellie Evans - flyingkiwigirl | 02/12/2013 | Shellie Evans
Chalmers Church, Timaru. CC BY 2.0 Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org | itravelNZ® - New Zealand in your pocket™ | 30/05/2012 | itravelNZ® - Wikimedia Commons
Chalmers Church, Timaru. One of the many beautiful stained glass windows | 27/08/2008 | Chalmers Church, Timaru

List Entry Information

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2

Access
Private/No Public Access

List Number
7107

Date Entered
17th December 1993

Date of Effect
17th December 1993

City/District Council
Timaru District

Region
Canterbury Region

Extent of List Entry

Extent includes the land described as Lot 313 DP 1 (RT CB10/21) and part of the land described as Lot 311 DP 1 (RT CB78/155), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Chalmers Church thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 11 September 2014.

Legal description

Lot 313 DP 1 (RT CB10/21), Lot 311 DP 1 (RT CB78/155), Canterbury Land District

Detailed List Entry

Construction Professional

Name

Turnbull, James S

Type

Architect

Biography

James S. Turnbull (1864-1947) worked in a Melbourne architect's office before returning to establish his own practice in Timaru in c.1895. In a career which spanned over forty years, Turnbull designed a wide range of building types in the South Canterbury town, including Chalmers Presbyterian Church (1903-04) and a considerable number of large town houses.

Construction Details

Start Year

1903

Type

Original Construction

Reference

Report Written By

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 Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Southern region 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.

Further Information

Current Usages

Uses: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Former Usages

General Usage:: Religion

Specific Usage: Church

Themes

Web Links

Overview

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 2

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

7107

Date Entered

17th December 1993

Date of Effect

17th December 1993

City/District Council

Timaru District

Region

Canterbury Region

Extent of List Entry

Extent includes the land described as Lot 313 DP 1 (RT CB10/21) and part of the land described as Lot 311 DP 1 (RT CB78/155), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Chalmers Church thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 11 September 2014.

Legal description

Lot 313 DP 1 (RT CB10/21), Lot 311 DP 1 (RT CB78/155), Canterbury Land District

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 2

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

7107

Date Entered

17th December 1993

Date of Effect

17th December 1993

City/District Council

Timaru District

Region

Canterbury Region

Extent of List Entry

Extent includes the land described as Lot 313 DP 1 (RT CB10/21) and part of the land described as Lot 311 DP 1 (RT CB78/155), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Chalmers Church thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 11 September 2014.

Legal description

Lot 313 DP 1 (RT CB10/21), Lot 311 DP 1 (RT CB78/155), Canterbury Land District

Construction Information

Construction Professional

Name

Turnbull, James S

Type

Architect

Biography

James S. Turnbull (1864-1947) worked in a Melbourne architect's office before returning to establish his own practice in Timaru in c.1895. In a career which spanned over forty years, Turnbull designed a wide range of building types in the South Canterbury town, including Chalmers Presbyterian Church (1903-04) and a considerable number of large town houses.

Construction Details

Start Year

1903

Type

Original Construction

Construction Professional

Name

Turnbull, James S

Type

Architect

Biography

James S. Turnbull (1864-1947) worked in a Melbourne architect's office before returning to establish his own practice in Timaru in c.1895. In a career which spanned over forty years, Turnbull designed a wide range of building types in the South Canterbury town, including Chalmers Presbyterian Church (1903-04) and a considerable number of large town houses.

Construction Details

Start Year

1903

Type

Original Construction

Reference

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

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 Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Southern region 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.

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

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 Southern Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. A copy of the original report is available from the NZHPT Southern region 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.

Further Information

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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