'It's devastated the whole sanctuary': Fire guts Napier central-city church

A mystery early-morning fire has gutted an inner-city church in Napier. 

St Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Tennyson St was destroyed in the blaze that took hold of the building about 1am Monday. 

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said the structure was well alight when crews from Napier, Hastings, Bay View and Taradale arrived. 

The spokesman said a fire investigator was at the scene later on Monday morning. 

The warped roof of St Paul's Presbyterian Church on Tennyson St in Napier after a fire early Monday morning. Photo / Mark Story 

Reverend Mark Johnston had been co-minister at St Paul’s alongside his wife Reverend Carolyn Kelly for two years. 

He said the damage to the church was significant and unrepairable. 

The main internal sanctuary was lost and the roof had buckled, but the outside structure was intact thanks to metal trusses. 

Pews from the original church lost in the 1931 earthquake had also been charred or destroyed. 

“It’s devastated the whole sanctuary,” Johnston said. 

“It’s not going to be a quick fix.” 

The church’s administration offices, lounge, kitchen and toilets were still operable. 

Johnston last used the church for a 10am service on Sunday. He said it was pretty upsetting to see it smouldering fewer than 24 hours later. 

Police were investigating the scene when Hawke’s Bay Today spoke with Johnston, who said there was no confirmation yet of what had happened. 

The pastor said it held special memories for his congregation, who’d invested a lot of time celebrating and mourning loved ones at the church. 

“They are great people...they rally, and they know that the church will continue ... but we are going to have to reimagine what our future is on this physical site.” 

He was yet to confirm a location for the church’s next service but said it had good relationships with other parishes and expected to have a location confirmed in the coming days. 

Smashed windows at St Paul's Presbyterian Church on Tennyson St in Napier after a fire early Monday morning. Photo / Mark Story 

Napier Mayor Richard McGrath said the community needed places like St Paul’s in the middle of town for its congregation to worship and for community meetings. 

He said the council would be happy to have a conversation with the church to see if anything could be worked on together. 

“Hopefully they’re not down for too long ... I wish them the best in getting things back to normal.” 

Police have been contacted for comment. 

Meanwhile, a fire about 24-hours earlier at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on Bower St in Napier was being treated as suspicious, with Fire and Emergency investigators handing the case to police to investigate. 

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and has worked in radio and media in the UK, Germany and New Zealand.