Church sold above GV

Naseby's 102-year-old Sacred Heart Church was sold yesterday for an undisclosed price, although it was above its $138,000 government valuation.

The historic wooden building will be decommissioned in a special ceremony conducted by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin the Most Rev Colin Campbell at a date yet to be set, before possession is handed over in about two months.

Ranfurly parish administrator the Rev Fr Vaughan Leslie said yesterday the diocese had a policy of non-disclosure with respect to the price, the identity of the successful buyers and the number of tenders received for the property because those were "sensitive matters".

However, he could confirm the price was above GV and the church also accepted the tender because the new owners were committed to preserving the listed category 2 historic building on its 515sq m section at 8 Foyle St, Naseby.

Fr Leslie said the sale of a building was "never an easy thing" and the final ceremony would be a time to bring the families of the district together one last time.

PGG Wrightsons real estate agent Bill Townsend, of Naseby, who marketed the property, said yesterday he had been astounded by the number of queries from around New Zealand.

He sent out at least 18 tender documents.

The Historic Places Trust listing means the exterior appearance cannot be altered.

Mr Townsend said people had asked many questions about the church. Some had indicated that if they bought it, they would try to get resource consent to move it. Others said they wanted to turn it into a holiday home.

The church bell is to be given to St Johns Catholic School at Ranfurly. Other interior items, including the altar, would also remain the property of the Roman Catholic Church.