The Church in Christchurch NZ

 I love how we come upon something unexpected and so very interesting I want to share it with those who follow the blog. Today our cruise ship stopped in Lyttelton and offered a shuttle to Christchurch. My initial plan was to visit the International Antarctica Centre in the third largest city in NZ. Instead after getting two geocaches we went to the cardboard Transitional Cathedral (another blog post). On the way we passed a pub so after the cathedral visit it was time for lunch. Hubby gets credit for insisting this was the stop for lunch. 

The Church Brew Pub

Leather covered menu

The sign that lured us in

The French Gothic church was built 1864-1870 as a Congregational Church. The church was used as a church until 1974 when it was sold to the neighboring insurance company who used the building as a community performing arts center. In 1993 it was sold to an individual who used it as a wedding venue and music studio. A restaurant was added in 2006 in which music students entertained restaurant diners. 

The former church was damaged in the 2010 Canterbury Earthquakes. The restaurant opened again but in February 2011 the Christchurch Earthquake damaged the building once again. It was registered as a historic building in 1985 and was given $1million for restoration in 2013. 

View from the balcony

Look at the pipes from the organ

Pews are used for table benches

Check in station

The wood fired pizza oven

Built of oamaru stone originally and 

Rebuilt of the oamaru stone and rubble

Light fixture above our table

Wood vaulted ceding

One of the walls with stained glass windows 

The other wall and stained glass windows

Bathroom signage

Bathroom signage

The bar area

Our drinks- a Half Lemonade 

and a L&P, a traditional NZ non-alcoholic yummy drink

The Good Shepherd pizza with 

lamb, confit garlic, fennel, tzatziki and red onion

Different and Delicious 

Hubby went out of his box and ordered a burger & fries

More info can be found on the internet of course but I just loved how the building was restored to its original design by Benjamin Mountfort. In 2023 it became The Church Brew Pub.