A major makeover saw this parish hall transformed into a New York-style loft
A Canterbury Couple’s Divine Transformation of a Parish Hall
A Canterbury couple has transformed a dilapidated parish hall into a stunning, light-filled New York-style loft retreat.
The Vision
Most people would have driven past the old Anglican church and parish hall, seeing only its decaying walls and forlorn appearance. But Caleb and Natalie Paterson saw potential. The couple decided to invest their life savings into the project, purchasing the Hawarden church and adjacent hall in early 2019.
The Renovation Journey
Caleb, a carpenter, knew he could handle most of the renovation work himself. Natalie, who works part-time as a community development facilitator, also had the capacity to contribute. The couple had previously spent five years renovating their beach house in Kaiapoi, so they were well-prepared for the challenge.
They weren’t actively looking for a new home when they drove past the former St Columba Church and hall. However, they saw the potential in the buildings and the 3000sqm rural section. They realized it could be a great home and an Airbnb, given its location on the road to Lake Sumner.
The Transformation
The couple decided to tackle the 70sqm parish hall first. It was in such a bad state that everything had to be rebuilt, except for the floor, the cathedral ceiling, and the back door. They hired Christchurch architectural designer Barry Connor, who was excited to breathe life into the 1955 building.
The brief was to preserve as much of the historic charm and notable original features as possible, including the 4m-high cathedral roof and Gothic arched door, and to retain the open-plan format. Natalie loved the idea of clean lines and open spaces, so they kept the living, sleeping, and dining areas as one big uninterrupted space.
The Finishing Touches
The couple used the March 2020 lockdown as a renovation retreat. They completed the bulk of the renovation work, including painting the rimu ceiling and floors white to create a light, bright canvas. The biggest change to the space happened at the western end of the building, where the large parish hall kitchen was carved up into a separate bathroom, mudroom, and kitchen.
When it came to furnishing the space, the couple realized that while most of their previous furniture would fit, they needed larger couches for the living area and bigger artwork to match the scale of the walls and ceiling.
The Outdoor Space
Outside, the couple cleared the overgrown garden to create a large decked area. Caleb designed and constructed a 15m x 15m decking that leads from the living room. They also added a swimming pool, which serves as a water source in case of fires and gets a lot of use year-round.
Future Plans
The couple is currently adding the final touches by landscaping the property. Future projects include turning the mezzanine level into a bedroom or study, and next year they plan to tackle the church, turning it into a three-bedroom home for holiday accommodation.
This project was a bigger challenge than they thought, but they’re excited to start the next phase of turning the church into a lovely home.
Images via Kate Claridge
