Former Greytown church offers potential
A former Catholic church on a main street corner site on the fringe of the Greytown retail precinct, offers potential buyers a host of exciting opportunities.
Sacred Heart church, at 60 Main St on the corner with Kuratawhiti St on a 1090m2 site surrounded by established trees and a well-maintained garden, and parking at the rear.
The property is zoned residential and includes the Sacred Heart Church, which opened on Christmas Day 1880 and was closed in 2020.
The 140m2 church building is described as Colonial style of typical Greytown Heritage and is listed as a heritage building in the Wairarapa Combined District Plan.
The wooden building features traditional arched main front wooden doors, native timber flooring and an abundance of natural light throughout the building via Gothic arched stained-glass window and a quatrefoil rose window under the spire.
The church is not earthquake prone, but was closed and slated for sale as part of the ongoing rationalisation of church resources within the district in order reinvest funds in other areas to meet modern demand.
David McHattie and Ben Moorcock of LJ Hooker, Masterton, are marketing the church property for sale by tender, with a price guide of offers from $700, 000 upwards.
McHattie said Sacred Heart’s corner site offered a number of opportunities.
‘‘The church’s interior features beautiful stained-glass workmanship and native timber floors, which could be showcased in a multitude of ways, accommodating numerous ideas.
‘‘It lends itself well to residential conversion with change of use application to council. Or a cafe-cum-art gallery or similar more commercial activity that would require a resource content,’’ he said.
‘‘Other ideas for this beautiful space could include a fashion house, restaurant, boutique hotel, function venue, health spa, art gallery, offices.’’
A spokesperson for the Wairarapa Catholic finance committee, that is managing the sale of the property on behalf of the diocese said parish priests had been asked to review their properties with a view to making financially realistic decisions that would enable Catholics to better focus on sharing their faith rather than being absorbed in maintaining very old buildings.
‘‘The diocese will use some of the proceeds of the sale of Sacred Heart to upgrade and repair two other churches at Masterton and Featherston,’’ the spokesperson said.
‘‘There is a diverse range of options for the potential purchaser of this property which is located within a popular tourist and wine-growing region. They might even want to keep the church.’’