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HistoryThis node was initiated by an article in the August 9, 2000 'Leader, when the Upper Hutt and Heretaunga congregations had combined, and another on July 23, 1959, when the Heretaunga Chapel was about to open.
In Upper Hutt, a Gospel Hall was built in Ebdentown Street in the 1890s (The article said 1980s); it can be identified in early photographs. Prominent families associated with it were the Benges and Whitemans. That hall still stood in 2000, converted to a residence; the probable site is now occupied by a group of town houses.
The second hall was built in Main Street, opposite Logan Street; dates of 1904 and 1913 have been suggested.
A Bible Class was established in Heretaunga in 1942, according to the July 23, 1959 article on the new chapel built in Heretaunga at 386 Fergusson Drive.
The site at 559 Main Road (now 386 Fergusson Drive) was bought in 1945, and an Army building was placed at the back of the site in 1947; it was renovated in 1957, and evangelistic services began later that year.
In 1958 it was felt that the time had come to establish a separate assembly at Heretaunga, and work on the new chapel, much of it voluntary, began in December that year. The chapel opened on July 25, 1959.
The Main Street Gospel Hall burnt down in the December 1975. The congregation moved temporarily to a hall art 26A Moonshine Road, where Bible classes and boys' and girls' rallies had been held. (A February 28, 2001 'Leader' article said it had been built as a Gospel Hall in the 1950s.) This hall was acquired by the Upper Hutt Operatic Society in October 1980, and they would be able to store their equipment and run rehearsals and training workshops there; it had been their rehearsal venue for 20 years. The February 10, 1981 'Leader' said the Operatic Society had been given permission to use the building for rehearsals, subject to conditions; the designation had been changed from 'church' to 'hall'.
A new Gospel Hall was built in Exchange Street; it opened on May 26, 1979. It was sold to Presbyterian Social Services in July 2000, when the congregations tried combining in August 2000 at the Heretaunga Chapel, which proved too small.
The Heretaunga Chapel was offered for sale in November 2000, It was first bought for use as an after-school care facility, by Mary and Ian Edwards, who had previously used St Brendan's It is now (2015) the Fig Tree Café and Larder.
The combined congregations now worship at the Heretaunga Christian Centre, at 51 Lane Street. The March 5, 2003 'Leader' announced the opening of the former warehouse; its auditorium seats 400. There were rooms upstairs for youth groups; the Sunday school overlooked the auditorium. The gymnasium had a sprung floor and catered for basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton.
In Upper Hutt, a Gospel Hall was built in Ebdentown Street in the 1890s (The article said 1980s); it can be identified in early photographs. Prominent families associated with it were the Benges and Whitemans. That hall still stood in 2000, converted to a residence; the probable site is now occupied by a group of town houses.
The second hall was built in Main Street, opposite Logan Street; dates of 1904 and 1913 have been suggested.
A Bible Class was established in Heretaunga in 1942, according to the July 23, 1959 article on the new chapel built in Heretaunga at 386 Fergusson Drive.
The site at 559 Main Road (now 386 Fergusson Drive) was bought in 1945, and an Army building was placed at the back of the site in 1947; it was renovated in 1957, and evangelistic services began later that year.
In 1958 it was felt that the time had come to establish a separate assembly at Heretaunga, and work on the new chapel, much of it voluntary, began in December that year. The chapel opened on July 25, 1959.
The Main Street Gospel Hall burnt down in the December 1975. The congregation moved temporarily to a hall art 26A Moonshine Road, where Bible classes and boys' and girls' rallies had been held. (A February 28, 2001 'Leader' article said it had been built as a Gospel Hall in the 1950s.) This hall was acquired by the Upper Hutt Operatic Society in October 1980, and they would be able to store their equipment and run rehearsals and training workshops there; it had been their rehearsal venue for 20 years. The February 10, 1981 'Leader' said the Operatic Society had been given permission to use the building for rehearsals, subject to conditions; the designation had been changed from 'church' to 'hall'.
A new Gospel Hall was built in Exchange Street; it opened on May 26, 1979. It was sold to Presbyterian Social Services in July 2000, when the congregations tried combining in August 2000 at the Heretaunga Chapel, which proved too small.
The Heretaunga Chapel was offered for sale in November 2000, It was first bought for use as an after-school care facility, by Mary and Ian Edwards, who had previously used St Brendan's It is now (2015) the Fig Tree Café and Larder.
The combined congregations now worship at the Heretaunga Christian Centre, at 51 Lane Street. The March 5, 2003 'Leader' announced the opening of the former warehouse; its auditorium seats 400. There were rooms upstairs for youth groups; the Sunday school overlooked the auditorium. The gymnasium had a sprung floor and catered for basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton.
Photos
Details
Organisation typeReligiousDate establishedCa. 1890LocationVaries, within Upper HuttGeotag[1] Probable site of the first Gospel Hall.[2] The Main Street site[3] The former chapel, 386 Fergusson Drive[4] Moonshine Road hall[5] The Exchange Street building[6] The Christian Centre, looking north-east from this point.
Date establishedCa. 1890LocationVaries, within Upper HuttGeotag[1] Probable site of the first Gospel Hall.[2] The Main Street site[3] The former chapel, 386 Fergusson Drive[4] Moonshine Road hall[5] The Exchange Street building[6] The Christian Centre, looking north-east from this point.loading google map....
Christian Brethren Churches. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 19/03/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24287