- Suzanne and Brian Morgan bought a 125-year-old church in Te Aroha and transformed it into a home.
- The couple restored the church, maintaining its original interiors, and lived there for two-and-a-half years.
- The property is now listed for sale, offering a unique opportunity for potential buyers.
Suzanne Morgan loves churches so much that she decided to buy a 125-year-old one in Te Aroha and turn it into a family home.
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Husband Brian told OneRoof that Suzanne's passion for New Zealand churches was a constant feature of their road trips around the country.
“We would be driving past a church and Suzanne would go, ‘Stop, stop, stop’, and I would go, 'Where am I going to park?'. She loved churches, and I would have to try and find a park [for the car and caravan] around a side street, and then she would go back and look at the church.”
The outside of the former Methodist church has been repainted and re-roofed. Photo / Supplied
A pergola and landscaped garden complement the outside renovation. Photo / Supplied
Two-and-a-half years ago, Suzanne spotted for sale an old Methodist church at 96A Centennial Avenue, Te Aroha, in Matamata-Piako, and a month later, they bought it.
The church was deconsecrated after holding its last service in 2013, and had cycled through several owners before the Morgans took possession.
Brian said the church had been the perfect project for them: Suzanne loved churches, and he loved building things. There was also enough room on the 828sqm section to park the caravan.
The couple dedicated considerable time to restoring the church, which included repainting the exteriors, installing a new roof and spouting, and even fixing the bell.
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Brian laid a BBQ area with a covered pergola and a garden shed, while Suzanne tended to the gardens.
The couple largely kept the interiors in their original state. Their bed is right next to the pulpit, and the lounge area has been set up beside one of the two organs placed towards the end of the building.
They had drawn up plans to convert the church into a three-bedroom home, but they put the project on hold when they received an unexpected offer to buy the property.
They started looking for their next project, but the church deal fell over. “It kind of took the steam out of our engine, because [the buyer] came and offered us money. We even found another place over in Hamilton.”
The couple have now listed the property to find another buyer. They found the experience of living in the church an unusual but rewarding one.
The current owners have consented plans to convert the church into a three-bedroom home. Photo / Supplied
Not only had it been the backdrop for their wedding earlier this year, but it was also spacious enough to fit his pool table. “I haven’t been hit by lightning, and I do drink and play pool here and all sorts,” he joked.
Te Aroha was also a friendly place to live, he said, with people always stopping to say hi when he was out walking his dog.
“The people around here are very friendly. We come from Tauranga, and they are snobs over there compared to here. People stop and talk to you.”
The church also attracted a lot of interest, including from couples who had been married there in the 1970s and a church minister visiting from the US. Others were just curious and asked to have a look inside.
Bayleys agent Nicki Robb is pitching the property as a blank canvas for someone to stamp their mark on. She told OneRoof that the church could suit someone who wanted to turn it into a family home or run it as an Airbnb for visitors. The property has an RV of $410,000, but Robb said buyer feedback had been north of $600,000.
Robb is also selling the former Jehovah Witness Hall at 98 Centennial Avenue. The current owner bought the brick and tile building two years ago and is now selling it because it is surplus to requirements.
A third property behind the old Methodist church is also up for grabs. The three-bedroom home at 96 Centennial Avenue, which is believed to have been the minister’s residence when the church was still in operation, has an asking price of $640,000. The house originally shared the same title with the church before being subdivided in 2017.
- 96a Centennial Avenue, in Te Aroha, goes to auction on May 22
