“CHURCH, OR NOT A CHURCH?”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28935, 1 July 1959, Page 20

“CHURCH, OR NOT A CHURCH?”

Poser For Auckland Plan Committee

“The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, June 30.

“When does a church cease to be a church? * r This poser was put recently to counsel by a member of the special committee hearing objections to the proposed district plan at the Auckland Town Hall.

The St Columba Parish Hall Trust Board objected to its land at the intersection of Surrey crescent and Seibourne street being zoned for general shopping purposes and asked for it to be zoned for large scale shopping and possibly industry. The parish hall, which had been a church, was due to be replaced by a hall to be built elsewhere, and the trust board had hoped to realise on the present property. Asking Mr H. E. H. Smytheman, cousel for the objectors, when a church ceased to be a church, the Hon. T. Bloodworth inquired whether the building was on consecrated ground. Mr Smytheman said that churches were sometimes dedicated without being consecrated. Some churches which had fallen into disuse had become factories. A valuer, Mr W. G. Boswell, said the zoning arrangements limited severely the uses to which the property could be put. He suggested putting a road through the section to increase the flow of traffic from Chinaman’s Hill, in Great North road, to Surrey crescent and Williamson avenue. This, he said, would also assist the business area.