Helping a Grand Old Lady: St Mary’s Church Strengthening

In the heart of Timaru, on an elevated site lives a grand old lady, St Mary’s Anglican Church.

St Mary’s Church is an authentic example of English Gothic revival and one of a few of such buildings in the Southern Hemisphere built of basalt rock, dressed with Oamaru stone and roofed in Welsh slate.

Church Property Trust (CPT) has engaged Timaru Construction Ltd to attend to structural strengthening works that will ensure this “Historic Building and Living Church” can take care of herself during future earthquakes.

Holmes Structural Engineers are attending to the structural details and Architects DLA are managing the process under CPT’s Project Manager- David Price’s care. Joseph and Associates have been appointed to provide Cost Control through appropriate Quantity Surveying Services to keep budgets in check.

Our Quantity Surveying team was fortunate to undertake a site visit to view the progress to date and this is when you get to understand how special the place is when walking through the site and also whilst popping into the adjoining Parish Hall. We were welcomed with a cup of tea and friendly conversation by the folks on duty as this is where the temporary church and related activities are being held during the construction time.

So whilst the historical foundation stone was laid in 1880, it is inspirational to meet the people in 2018 who are making it a living church.

Joseph and Associates are proud to be part of the process, with the keepers, that will result in St Mary’s being around for generations to come.