Plans to demolish former Carterton Catholic church

St Mary’s Church was deemed earthquake prone in 2018. The church and the adjacent presbytery were sold in 2022 to Westwood Property Group Limited.

Westwood Property Group director Steve Pilbrow said preparation has started on a consent application to Carterton District Council to demolish the building. It will be publicly notified.

“We have explored the option of strengthening and repurposing the church, however this has proven to be not financially viable,” he said.

“This is a difficult one, but at the end of the day every project needs to be able to be financially viable and fit for purpose.”

The site has deteriorated since 2022, becoming overgrown and littered with rubbish and debris. Mr Pilbrow said options were being explored to preserve or incorporate elements of the church’s history – such as plaques, artefacts or design features – into the new development.

He confirmed than a significant statue of St Mary has been preserved.

The Wairarapa Catholic Parish confirmed the “statue of Our Lady has been removed from the old St Mary’s Church and will soon have a new home at St Mary’s School in Carterton”.

Mr Pilbrow said stained-glass windows had been removed to stop further damage as a number of them had been vandalised. They were placed in storage until a consent was issued for demolition.

Guusje de Schot, who has strong family ties to the church, had appealed for preservation of several items as they held “religious, cultural and historical significance”.

FULL STORY

End of an era: Historic Carterton church set for demolition | The Post (By Kate Judson/Wairarapa Times-Age)