Church becomes home, sweet home

DEENA COSTER/ Fairfax NZ

HOME SWEET CHURCH: Bruce and Gail Thompson enjoy the peace and quiet of their converted church.

Pulling up a pew takes on a whole new meaning for visitors to Bruce and Gail Thompson's Taranaki home.

The couple live in what was the former St John's Church located by the main road, about 11km south of Hawera.

Thompson, who has owned the property since 1997, originally had plans to run a business from the address, but after the venture fell through, he decided to live in it instead.

"It just sort of became a home," he said.

The church, which was built in 1926, has been completely transformed by Mr Thompson but some of the original features remain.

These include the brick archway, which extends to the roof, as well as the church's pulpit which takes pride of place in the couple's living room.

The majority of the work on the one-bedroom house was done by a builder but Thompson did the painting, wiring and the fittings himself.

He said a lot of the material used in the home was recycled.

Original post:
Church becomes home, sweet home