It has been some time since we last communicated, and we have plenty of great news to share. We may be in lockdown, but St David’s is on the up!
THANK YOU
First, we acknowledge Ted Manson ONZM, Founding Patron of Friends of St David’s Trust. Ted purchased the three church properties by tender to ensure that St David’s would be secured by Friends of St David’s Trust. Years of work would not go to waste, and St David’s would live on.
Ted’s dedication to the cause is marked at Te Pourewa Whakamaratanga, The Tower of Remembrance, at the south entrance of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. From there, the Tower of the Soldiers’ Memorial Church is seen across the Domain.
Te Pourewa Whakamaharatanga The Tower of Remembrance, Auckland War Memorial Museum
We acknowledge all our Founding Benefactors, Patrons and Friends and the generosity of your pledges, which continue to come in.
We could not be doing this without the support of thousands of individuals from across Aotearoa New Zealand and the globe, who are enabling the Trust to take on the ownership of St David’s and ensure that it continues to play a vital role into the future.
We thank you so much.
Hearts by Petra Bagust and family at St David’s July 2016. The day we raised $1,000,000. Image courtesy Jessica Chloe Photography
A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
This a massive undertaking: to take on a unique heritage building that means so much to Auckland and New Zealand, and that has 30 years of deferred maintenance and seismic upgrade requirements. It is one thing to undertake such a mission with a commercial outcome. It is quite another for a charitable Trust to do this to serve the community. Together, we will do this.
GETTING ON WITH IT
Ted has asked us to get on with engaging the engineers, investigation and design work required to prepare for the transfer of ownership to Ted, and then to the Trust, in December 2021.
We have wasted no time and detailed expert assessments are under way: structural engineers, heritage architects, quantity surveyors, planners, fire systems engineers, acoustic specialists, steel window experts, asbestos removal people, electricians, and many others.
At the same time, we are further refining how St David’s, this remarkable historic building, can continue to inspire and best serve the city of Auckland, the region and all New Zealanders, for many years to come.
MEANINGFUL NEWS: PRESERVING ST DAVID’S HERITAGE
Further great news is that the Presbyterian Church has confirmed that all the major historic heritage items associated with St David’s will remain. The pews, the altar, the Robertson font, the intricately carved ceremonial chairs with cushions embroidered long ago, the velvet banners red, green, purple and white. These items and many others will ensure that this rich history is retained. The golden key that first unlocked the doors of St David’s soon after World War One will remain.
Image courtesy Jessica Chloe Photography
MARK THE DATE
Image courtesy Jonathan Suckling
In a tradition that dates back to 1927, the Sappers’ Memorial Parade and service will be held on Sunday 17 October 2021 at approximately 10am (precise time TBC). The Sappers / Royal New Zealand Engineers (RNZE) are the section of the Army that takes care of the roads, bridges, machinery, and communication lines: this is their church, and on this day we remember them. Because the ownership of St David’s is now confirmed, we can ensure that St David’s will continue to be their home.
Whatever your faith and background, we invite you to come to support the Sappers in their memorial service. Sappers come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and so do the Friends of St David’s. The main service will take place in the Old Hall adjacent to St David’s, and the wreath will be laid in the Sappers’ Memorial Chapel. We will share an invitation with you closer to the date.
BE IN TOUCH
If you would like to take a more active role in supporting this remarkable project in any way, please be in touch.
NGĀ MIHI NUI KIND REGARDS