Stuff
After 113, the peach-coloured church perched on a hill in Mt Victoria has closed due to earthquake concerns.
As Cardinal John Dew shuts the doors of St Gerard s church for the last time, a hush falls over the congregation. Soft piano notes reverberate up to the criss-crossed rafters. It was a solemn way to conclude the final mass held in the peach-coloured building which, nestled on a hill in Mt Victoria, has been a landmark in Wellington’s skyline for the past 113 years. The historic church has closed because of its earthquake-prone status. Its owners made the “difficult decision” after they struggled to raise the $11 million to $13m needed to pay for strengthening work. Only $42,000 had been donated by July 2020.