Join a series of Guided Walks through Wellington’s Sacred Spaces as part of the Wellington Heritage Festival. Delve into the spiritual history of the city, exploring the diverse faith communities that have shaped Wellington since the 19th century.

Led by former Anglican Archbishop Sir David Moxon, these walks will illuminate the architecture, art, beliefs, and rituals unique to each tradition.

Organized by Dr. Richard Norman, a member of Historic Places Wellington and St Peter’s Anglican Church, the walks will offer a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual heritage of Wellington. Key sites include St Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, St Peter’s Church, and many more.

Dates and Times:

Walk One:

Friday, November 1st: 2 pm - 5:30 pm

• BETH EL ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE in Webb Street was founded in Wellington in 1843 for the Jewish faith, which dates back more than 3500 years. The Synagogue is a community and worship centre which includes the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand.

• The THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, near Cuba Street, was founded in the United States in 1875 to explore questions such as ‘Who am I? Why am I here? What is the purpose of life. The society encourages comparing religions to identify essential teachings.

• ST PETER’S CHURCH, Willis Street, built in native timbers in 1879 in the style of Gothic cathedrals. Anglicans have been in New Zealand since 1814 when Samuel Marsden established a mission station in the Bay of Islands

Walk Two:

Saturday, November 2nd: 9 am - 12:15 pm

• ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Mt Victoria. It has been a major contributor to education, health and welfare, linked with St Pat’s College and the Home of Compassion.

• The GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL, Hania Street, Mt Victoria dates back to 1947, with the current building from 1970. It was built by Greek migrants, most of whom came to Wellington during the 1950s and 60s.

• SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, or Quakers, are at Moncrieff Street, Mount Victoria. In Wellington and Nelson from the 1840s, Quakers was founded in England in the 17th century and has 30 groups in New Zealand. The meeting house was built in 1929.

• WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH began with Wellington’s first service of Christian worship at Te Aro Pa in June 1839. The church building dates from 1880 and holds services in English, Fijian, Samoan and Tongan.

Walk Three:

Saturday, November 2nd 1 pm - 5 pm

o    ST MARY OF THE ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH, Boulcott Street was founded in 1843 and the concrete Gothic church dates from 1922, largely completed by a parish priest and day labourers. It was fully restored between 2015-17.

o    WELLINGTON CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, began meeting in 1877, and at its Boulcott Street building in 1941. Central played host to the 1882 formation of the Baptist Union, which now has more than 250 churches around New Zealand.

o    ST JOHNS PRESBYTERIAN, Willis Street dates from the early 1850s, and the building from 1885, when it was on the edge of the colonial town.

o    CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, Willis Street, founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston, 1879; in New Zealand since 1914.

Each half-day walk costs $40.

Book at:

https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/tours-festivals/2024/sacred-spaces-of-wellington

More information about the heritage festival, see:  wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz.

For those interested in further discussions, refreshments will be available after the walks at St Peter’s Anglican Church.