Methodist Church (Eltham)/Eltham Savage Club

This was once the Eltham Methodist Church and was originally erected on a section in King Edward Street at a cost of £388. Construction started in January 1904, during the ministry of the Rev. Godbear.

The 1913 union of Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists resulted in the latter group selling their building (on the Bridge Street/York Street corner). The  proceeds, £267 and 10 shillings, was used to help fund a church hall at the King Edward Street site, built at a cost of £488. The Primitive Methodist Church was sold to the Foresters Lodge and  then moved to the corner of London and York Street.

The congregation celebrated the 50th Jubilee of the church on 3 September 1944.

The church was moved to its present location on Railway Street in 1980 after it was purchased by the Eltham Savage Club. The owners at the time were the New Zealand Rennet Company who had purchased the church property as part of a large expansion plan. The church was purchased for $1,800 and the section on Railway Street was purchased for $2,000 from Mr. Michael Uhlenburg.

Once renovations were completed the Eltham Savage Club celebrated with an, "Opening Night Korero", on 1 November,1980.

The building is listed in the Eltham Heritage Inventory and also featured in Kelvin Day's "Of passing interest" series.

Further reading on the Savage Club: "The Days of Savagery: A History of the Eltham Savage Club 1945-1994" by Frank Everest (TRCT367 EVE). For more information about the church: "A Short History of the Methodist Church in Eltham" (TRCT287 SUR) is also available in the Taranaki Research Centre.