Re-use of religious architecture

Abstract

In 1982, in the Australian House and Garden Year Book, I saw an article about a house built in a small stone church. A strange beginning to an academic research report, perhaps, but this quaint building, with its intense atmosphere and exciting adaptive re-use, began an interest that still continues. The building, Halloway House, is the first of the overseas examples in the report, and gives an indication of the possibilities available with the re-use of religious architecture. This research has attempted to draw together information on current re-uses for church buildings, both overseas and in New Zealand. Many examples were found from which a limited number have been selected, representing different uses, locations, construction methods and former denominations. The overseas examples establish a wider base than can be provided from within New Zealand, while the case studies from this country set the New Zealand context of religious re-use. These enable us to judge; how much churches need to be adapted, how successful they are and how well religious architectural symbolism fits secular re-use. The final section draws together these conclusions, and those of other authors. It provides an overview of current New Zealand re-use; examining overall advantages, the conversion process and whether suitable uses can be defined; as well as looking at the major church bodies' opinions and the issue of the architectural language and siting of churches.