St Andrews Church and Hall

About this place

St Andrew's Church and Hall stands at 5 Henry Street, Blenheim, on a site adjacent to Seymour Square in the centre of the town. It is the home of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, part of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the church and its adjoining hall are used for community gatherings, services, concerts and hired events.

### History

The Blenheim congregation opened its first church in 1858, naming it after St Andrew. St Andrew's was the first Presbyterian church built in Blenheim, opening in May 1868. After some ninety years as a 'river church', the congregation acquired a more convenient site next to Seymour Square. The present Sunday School hall, built from pink Wharanui stone, opened in November 1958, and the third and current stone-clad church was dedicated in October 1969. During the 1990s the roofed breezeway between church and hall was enclosed to create an entry lounge, with further renovations carried out to the hall at the same time.

### Spaces and facilities

The property comprises the church auditorium, the adjoining stone hall, and the linking entry lounge created in the 1990s refurbishment. The church space is regularly used for concerts and recitals as well as worship, and the hall provides a flat-floor room for meetings, functions and community activity. Detailed room capacities, catering arrangements and hire rates are not published online and should be confirmed directly with the church office.

### Suitability for MICE

St Andrew's is best suited to smaller-scale gatherings rather than full conference programmes: seminars, community meetings, AGMs, recitals, memorial services and social functions. Its central Blenheim location beside Seymour Square makes it convenient for attendees arriving on foot from the town centre and nearby accommodation. Organisers planning a corporate or association event should approach the church directly to confirm availability, layout options and what catering can be arranged on site.