St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Devon Street 1884)

This small Presbyterian church in Devon Street East (about where Top Town cinema is today) was built in 1884. It opened on 2 March 1884, with a service led by Rev. James Patterson.

The architect was James Sanderson and the contractor William Sands.

It was a replacement for the original Presbyterian church which burned to the ground two years earlier in mysterious circumstances. On 5 August 1882, the Auckland Presbytery severed its ties with their New Plymouth minister, the Rev. M.S. Breach. On 19 August the church burned to the ground and the local Presbyterian community found themselves without a leader and a church.  

In 1932 the new St Andrew's Church opened in Liardet Street and although no longer needed by the Presbyterians, the church remained on this site until 1957. It was then moved by Riddick Bros. & Still to the Belt Road Motor Camp to be used as a hall.

Related document:

Bitter church row explodes in flames (Taranaki Herald 14 August 1982)