Restaurant plan for old church

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33563, 18 June 1974, Page 18

Restaurant plan for old church

A proposal to turn the Trinity Congregational Church into a licensed restaurant has been put to the Christchurch City Council.

Cr M. McG. Clark, the chairman of the council’s town planning committee, told the council of the proposal last evening, and suggested a steering committee of interested parties to vet this and any other proposals for the old building.

“While the council has resolved that it does not have any funds available for the purchase of the Trinity Church, its listing in the operative District Scheme (and in the proposed change) does place some responsibility upon the council to encourage all reasonable

effort to ensure its preservation,” she said.

The council agreed to form the committee. Cr Clark said that what information there was available on the proposal suggested that very little alteration would be done to the interior of the church, although the hall would be altered considerably to provide a kitchen and service areas, the toilets, and possibly a coffee-lunch area.

"This is the first firm proposal submitted for the future use of the building, although its feasibility has not as yet been checked.” It is proposed that the committee have representatives of the. council, the Historic Places Trust, the Institute of Architects, the Civic Trust, an.d the Presbyterian Church, as owners of the building.