Did you know that HCUC-St John’s Avalon Uniting Church here on High Street wasn’t the first church in this area? After World War II, the government created a housing development known as the “shingle pit” due to the abundance of gravel and rocks. As part of the development, two sections were allocated to the Methodist Church on Molesworth Street for a temporary hall.
In 1947, a decision was made by the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Churches to establish a Union Parish. While Raglan had already formed one unofficially, the Taita group’s request for a Union Parish was met with a change in attitude and received official recognition, becoming the first of its kind.
A multi-purpose Church Hall was subsequently erected on the Presbyterian site in Macky Street. The name “St John’s Union Parish” was adopted in 1952 at the suggestion of Rev. Ian Dixon. However, with declining numbers over the years, the church closed and was sold in 1994. It was then that Taita Union merged with Avalon Methodist Church, ultimately becoming HCUC-St John’s Avalon Uniting as a testament to its history and the joining of these congregations. The church continues to serve its diverse community on High Street, keeping the spirit of unity and faith alive in the heart of Avalon.