More than $10,500 was raised for the All Saints Anglican Church at a fundraising dinner at Selwyn College, despite the absence of the guest speaker, Sam Neill.
The Hollywood actor and New Zealand wine maker was unable to attend the launch of the church's 150th anniversary fundraising appeal because he was called away at short notice to filming in Japan.
However, appeal organising committee member Tom Ross said guests were not disappointed.
Mr Neill gave his speech via a DVD recording made from his Two Paddocks vineyard this week and donated $1800 of his wine for the 60 people present to enjoy at the function.
Mr Ross was delighted with the fundraising result from the event.
All Saints is the oldest church building still in use in Dunedin and its stained glass windows commemorate some of the city's founding business families, including the Neill family.
Mr Neill is a descendant of that Neill family and has agreed to be patron of the appeal and plans to give an undisclosed sum.
The appeal aims to raise $1.7 million to replace rotting roof woodwork, reinstate the slate roof, strengthen the bonds between the walls and roof, repair the south wall, secure the glass windows and remove the tie rods which hold the building together.
It was hoped the restoration work could be completed before the church's 150th anniversary in 2015.
