This week our long-awaited Aldersgate window was successfully installed. The original Aldersgate in London was the spot where founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s “heart was strangely warmed”. His faith became real and visceral. It also impelled him into the world of poverty and the marginalised, so that he (and the church) would never … Continued
In February 2020, it’s great to see progress on the colourful, inclusive stained-glass window designed and being crafted for us by Graham Stewart of www.stewartstainedglass.co.nz. When finished it will be hung in the giant window of the Chapel at Aldersgate, facing Durham Street. More background on the design, its meaning and significance and what to expect in … Continued
It’s great to see progress on the colourful, inclusive stained-glass window designed and being crafted for us by Graham Stewart of www.stewartstainedglass.co.nz. When finished it will be hung in the giant window of the Chapel at Aldersgate, facing Durham Street. More background on the design, its meaning and significance and what to expect in the final product … Continued
The large screens that hang down from the roof over the colonnades down both sides of the Aldersgate Great Hall are made of punched metal, but have been designed to echo the traditional, woven tukutuku panels that often line marae (meeting house) walls. In particular, the stepped Poutama design used in the Aldersgate panels is … Continued
With the Aldersgate construction nearing completion, on a beautiful sunny summer morning at 7:30am on Thursday 28 Nov, Durham Street Methodists provided a sit-down, full-English cooked ‘thank you’ in the form of a breakfast for 65 workers (architects, designers, managers, builders, tradies and many others) who had contributed in one way or another to the … Continued
Work is underway on an exciting new and colourful window that will evoke a hopeful and inclusive message from The Chapel at Aldersgate to the busy Durham Street frontage. Symbols and images in the window’s design have been deliberately chosen to speak to people from a variety of faith backgrounds and none, filling three giant … Continued
With much of the external scaffolding now taken down, its easier to get a good idea of the overall shape of the new centre and especially its external finishes – which includes stone reclaimed from the original building though still hiden behind the protective fencing.
Unlike the attached link, suggesting Mike Pence was horrified to discover a unisex toilet in his own house, this post is not Fake News. It was a no-brainer for us to put unisex facilities in Aldersgate – our new church and community facility. Not only are they more welcoming for gender diverse folk, but they are … Continued
It is a tradition that when a significant building reaches the stage of its roof being completed, that the client organises a ‘roof shout’ for all those working on the construction. We celebrated ours for the Aldersgate Centre on 10 May. It involved providing a burger lunch for the workers and support staff (around 70 … Continued
Progress on the construction continues – now inside as well as outside, as the roofing is being constructed. On the scaffolding on Durham Street, you can also see a sign that displays our values and philosophy about how this new facility will be used in the city to support social justice and inclusion, as well … Continued
Progress is happening fast now – on both the inside and outside as the walls take shape, and parts of the roof are already up.
Aerial view from a drone of the rear of the Centre, shows just how big and versatile the facilities will be. And views from street level on Durham Street, as the wooden framing goes up between the steel.
The seal is feeling a little cozier, but still has plenty of room to breathe.
The walls begin to rise. The outline of the spectacular curved chapel walls appear for the first time.
We can begin to see an outline of the shape of the building drawn across the site in concrete blocks and reinforcing rods. The seal is intrigued by what is appearing before its eyes.
The fence is covered in – a sign that things must really be happening now.And at last things start to look like they are building up from the ground level.
New foundations begin to be laid.
The drilling and pounding goes on and on… While our favourite seal looks on bemused by all the activity.
After years as a car park, the site is finally ready to begin a new stage in its history. The vision is planted squarely on the land. And after a dawn blessing, the machinery is brought in and the project begins. As in most big construction projects the first task is to dig down. Only … Continued