This small Presbyterian Church in Urenui was opened on 23 April, 1924. A newspaper article in 1987 records that the Topless family donated the land, materials for the building and paid the tradesman. However, the Taranaki Daily News on 29 April 1924 states that the section had been purchased for £54 and the church had cost about £500. As a result of some very generous donations (possibly from the Topless family) there was only 1s 1d owing on the building when it opened. 

Services were conducted regularly until the mid 1970s when falling attendances resulted in a merger with the local Methodist congregation who used the church until 1978.

In 1987 the land and building was purchased by a neighbour, Mr Joel Busby. He then sold the church to Bruce Baker and on 26 January 1988 the building was moved to a new site alongside the Mimi River to be refurbished as a private residence.

Related document:

Calvin Church Removed (Taranaki Herald 10 February 1988)

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