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Wesley Bicentenary Hall


While strolling around Auckland City near the top of Queen Street and Karangahape (K) Road I noticed this rather imposing building hidden behind some of the more modern ones. Upon research I found out that the Wesley Bicentenary Hall was built to commemorate the 200 years since the conversion of John and Charles Wesley in 1739 and the founding of the Methodist Church.

The building was built in 1939 and opened in 1940. The architect was a Herbert Clinton Savage (1890-1957) and was designed in a modernised version of the Gothic style to harmonise with a nearby Pitt Street church. This structure replaced a wooden building dating from 1877 which was moved to Mission Bay and used as a school.

It was originally for the administrative offices of the Methodist Church of New Zealand as well as an auditorium on the ground floor. In the 1990s a lift shaft was carefully added to the front of the building. I'm not sure what it's being used for now.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

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Comments

Tom said…
...many building have to change and find new uses.
16 November 2023 at 14:04
magiceye said…
Interesting history.
16 November 2023 at 14:07
s.c said…
And it is big. That you doon't see often in your posts.
17 November 2023 at 02:01
Tigger's Mum said…
It looks a bit (a lot) unforgiving. It says a lot about that lack of frills on some protestant religions.
17 November 2023 at 02:47
Jim said…
How interesting.
17 November 2023 at 08:41
Bill said…
An interesting surprise.
17 November 2023 at 09:08
Spare Parts and Pics said…
The windows set it apart. Nice photo!
17 November 2023 at 09:56
Photo Cache said…
What a joy to find something like this.

Worth a Thousand Words
17 November 2023 at 15:08
Iris Flavia said…
s.c. nailed it. Nice building.
17 November 2023 at 20:51
Yogi♪♪♪ said…
That's cool!! I love old buildings like that.
18 November 2023 at 08:20
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