The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, the Right Reverend Ross Bay, has blessed the build site of a new east Auckland church.
The ceremony at St Paul’s in the Park in Flat Bush was held on Thursday, November 16, and attended by about 60 people.
Priest in charge, Reverend Warner Wilder, said the project has been many years in the making.
“It is with a sense of excitement, aligned with some degree of relief, that we congregated on a warm morning for this significant occasion.”
The build will include a new church and also a community centre.
“The facilities will enable us to host a wide range of programmes which will be of benefit to the growing and diverse local community,” said Wilder.
“It will be an opportunity for our church to reach out to our community and hopefully make a difference.
“Following the blessing of the site and the turning of a sod of turf by Bishop Ross, we moved into the hall for speeches, a song by our music group and a wonderful and customary spread provided by our church ladies.”
Among the speakers were deputy mayor Desley Simpson, who said the project is very important, not just for the community of Flat Bush, but for Auckland as well.
In attendance also were representatives from Auckland Council, Howick Local Board, the Diocese, BSM Architects, Foundation North, the construction company McMillan and Lockwood, donors and church members.
“If you have travelled down Chapel Road recently, you will have noticed earthworks in the park adjacent to our church,” said Wilder.
“This is the laying down of the wastewater and stormwater drains, and this is due to be completed by the end of this month.”
