Celebrate Old St Paul’s 160th anniversary
60 years since the founding of the Friends of Old St Pauls, with an afternoon of
Musical Adventure
From 1.45 pm come and watch Bell Master Steve Dean and his team ringing peals on the bells. Please note, while the bells are up entry will be via the south porch.
2.15 - 4.00 pm our Master of Ceremonies,Dave Armstrong, playwright, screenwriter, trumpet player, and columnist for The Post, will introduce an exciting line-up of performers. There will be no intermission and timings are approximate.
2.20 pm - Max Toth, talented Sub Organist at Wellington Cathedral and former Richard Prothero Organ Scholar. Max’s playing ranges from a lyrical sweetness reminiscent of legendary past Cathedral organists to an exciting, space-filling richness and depth. Usually heard as an accompanist, or in NZSO and Orchestra Wellington performances, this is a rare chance to hear Max as an organ soloist, before he leaves us to take up a prestigious Organ Scholarship at Exeter Cathedral, UK.
2.45 pm - Horn player James MacKay will lead a Sextet from Hutt City Brass, treating us to a magnificent medley to shake up Old St Paul’s ancient timbers.
3.10 pm - Renown Chamber Choir Nota Bene with musical director Maaike Christie-Beekman will treat us to a range of beautiful melodies from classical to contemporary. Friends will know Nota Bene from their wonderful singing at our 2025 Carol Service. We highly recommend their concert Sunday 31 May, Four Hands, Two Grands, and a Choir, with Wellington-based pianists Catherine Norton and Gabriela Glapska, 3 pm, St Andrew's on the Terrace. See more at: https://www.notabene.org.nz
Book at: https://events.humanitix.com/four-hands-two-grands-and-a-choir/tickets
3.30 pm - Pianist Kathryn Mosley, Senior Lecturer in Collaborative Piano at Victoria University, and cellistEleanor Carter, NZSO, duet cello and piano, and solo, performances.
Friends of Old Saint Paul’s
The Friends of Old St Pauls is a non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the historic Old Saint Paul’s Church Wellington New Zealand.
The Friends are passionate about the preservation and story of Old Saint Paul’s Church. We work to promote the building’s rich history in the life of our nation and city and ensure that the building is maintained to the highest standards and open for all to experience and appreciate its beauty and heritage.
Our Purpose
Established in 1965 to save the building from the threat of demolition and ensure its preservation, the Friends now act as guardians or kaitiaki of the church.
We work alongside Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, (formerly Historic Places Trust) to help fund projects, advocate of behalf of the church, welcome visitors, organise events, and continue special traditions such as the annual commemoration of the consecration of the building on 6 June 1866 and the December Citizens’ Christmas Carol Service.
We are governed by a committee which is elected at the Annual General Meeting usually held late March. We welcome guests to our AGMs, which usually include an interesting speaker and conclude with refreshments.
People We Work With
The Friends of Old St Paul's are proud to work alongside Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga who care for Old St Paul's.
The volunteers, who are essential to help with all aspects of what we do, cannot be thanked enough. Without them, we would not be able to operate.
We are also pleased to acknowledge and thank organisations who have so generously supported our work recently:
The Adam Foundation
Wellington City Council Creative Communities Fund
New Zealand Post
As well as those who have donated through collections or personally and by bequest.
Old Saint Paul’s
Old St Paul's is one of New Zealand's greatest heritage places, and is arguably one of the finest examples of timber Gothic Revival architecture in the world. It is also widely regarded as Thatcher's best work in New Zealand. The church was constructed from a selection of the finest New Zealand timbers and the church's special qualities have been retained and enhanced by the additions, which were seamlessly incorporated into the building by a succession of skilled architects.
Old St Paul’s, although still consecrated, is regarded as a non-denominational church with the Anglican Church retaining a residual interest. It is used for weddings, funerals, and christenings as well as exhibitions, plays, and concerts.
34 Mulgrave Street, Pipitea, Wellington 6011
Old St Paul’s Church is open daily from 10.00 am to 4 pm. It is closed Christmas Day and Good Friday, and on Anzac Day (25 April) until 1.00pm.
News
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Friends of Old St Paul's Society
02 0500 0162639 00
Please include your name and a reference (Subscription / Donation) in your deposit details. If your donation is $5 or more, you may be eligible for a tax credit from IRD. Please also email the Membership Secretary (membership@friendsofoldstpauls.org.nz) if you would like a receipt.
Donate to our Endowment Fund
Give today to support the work of the Friends for generations to come.
To be part of the next chapter of Old St Paul’s, you can donate to the Friends of Old St Paul’s Endowment Fund via internet banking, donating online or by leaving a gift in your will.