Feeling 'a bit sad' about demolition of St Bernadette's Church

The St Bernadette's Church is no more after contractors demolished the almost 83-year-old building yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien.
The St Bernadette's Church is no more after contractors demolished the almost 83-year-old building yesterday. Photos: Gerard O'Brien.

The almost 83-year-old St Bernadette's Church was no match for the destructive powers of demolition machines yesterday.

The Forbury Rd Catholic church came down yesterday, after four churches merged to one last year.

Mercy Parish priest Fr Gerard Aynsley said contrary to reports last year that apartments would be built on the site, the area of land where the church stood would become more playground for St Bernadette's School.

The longer-term plan was for an administration area and library building for the school.

''That's very much a concept plan at this stage.''

For now, the demolition would extend the site of the school, and it would probably be grassed in the meantime.

''It's hard not to feel a bit sad to see it come down,'' Fr Aynsley said about the demise of the building.

''I know that a lot of people will be feeling like that.

''It's been a significant church in the history of the diocese, and significant in lots of people's lives.''

''I'm conscious of that,'' he said.

Last year, the congregation at St Bernadette's merged with St Brigid's (Tainui), St Alphonsus (Waverley) and St Patrick's (Macandrew Rd) to become Mercy Parish in the newly refurbished and modified St Patrick's Basilica in Macandrew Rd.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

Comments

Misericordia day. Why did the Church deconstruct the Church?

I hope they saved the crosses off the roof. It does seem odd that the church is demolished when there is still a school there. I don't imagine they walk to the basilica for Mass. It is hard to see any logic in some of the recent decisions in the South Dunedin parish. A shame. It was once a real stronghold of the Catholic faith.

 

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