This church, named the Whiteley Memorial Church after the late Rev. John Whiteley was located on the corner of Liardet and Courtenay Streets. It opened on 15 December 1898 in a service led by the Rev. J. Morley. The cost of the building was £2,625 18s 11d, almost all of which had been raised by opening day, leaving only a small debt to be paid off.
It replaced a smaller church which was moved to one side and converted into a Sunday School Hall.
On 18 February 1959 the Whiteley Memorial Church was destroyed in a fierce blaze; despite the fire station being located just across the road.
Four years later, in October 1963 the present Whiteley Memorial Church opened.
Related items:
Disastrous Church Fire (New Plymouth Photo News #25, 18 February 1959 pages 41, 42-43 and 44)
Laying the Foundation Stone (9 December 1897)
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