Seddon church decommissioned

Worshippers gather for final service KAT DUGGAN

SCOTT HAMMOND/FAIRFAX NZ

FINAL SERVICE: The Rev Dawn Daunauda, of St Andrews Presbyterian Church, leads a farewell of the Seddon church building, which is to be demolished because of earthquake damage.

The St Andrew's Presbyterian Church congregation in Seddon has said its last goodbye to a church it has worshipped in for the past six decades.

The church building in Richmond St is to be demolished because of earthquake damage.

Yesterday, about 140 people gathered for the final service at the 59-year-old church.

The Rev David Coster, who was ordained at the church in 1977, led the service with its current minister, the Rev Dawn Daunauda, who announced its decommission.

A decision was made in April to bring the church down, after earthquakes in July and August last year made it unsafe for use.

Coster and Daunauda said it was a sad day but they were happy to see the building go and the safety of their congregation preserved.

"I look at it and there's a deep ache in my heart . . . I love being here but I wish I was here for another reason," Coster said. "As a church we have to keep our buildings at the same safety standard as anything else, and this is a risk site . . . it needs to come down."

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Seddon church decommissioned