Old St Paul's

08/06/2026

As we continue celebrating 160 years of Old St Paul's, we're delighted to share a summarised message from Annette Walkley (née Barraud), great-granddaughter of artist and pharmacist Charles Decimus Barraud.

In 1883, C.D. Barraud created and gifted the carved Psalm panels that still hang above the pews today, while stained glass made in London by his brother also remains an intrinsic part of the building's story.

Annette's own connection spans generations: her parents were married at Old St Paul's ('plus probably two aunts'), she was christened here in 1936, and several family memorial plaques remain within the building.

Do you have memories, family connections or stories linked to Old St Paul's? We'd love to hear them as we continue marking 160 years of this remarkable place.

Share your story here: https://www.visitheritage.co.nz/whats-on/wellington-events/old-st-pauls-at-160-stories-memories-reflections

07/06/2026

Cherishing two icons. Thank you to our friends at Katherine Mansfield House & Garden for this captivating post. Our 160th celebrations continue throughout June. Don't forget to send us your connections with this Mulgrave Street masterpiece, whether they be words or photos. Long live OSP! 🫶

05/06/2026

🎶 Next Thursday at 12.30pm! 🎶Join us for a musical journey across the Balkans and Europe with Vox Ethno – an energetic ensemble of five singers and five musicians performing beautiful folk songs from Serbia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria and beyond. Expect soaring harmonies, infectious rhythms, traditional instruments, and music that ranges from hauntingly beautiful to irresistibly uplifting. Musical Punch Over Lunch at Old St Paul's is a concert series open to all. Koha entry.

04/06/2026

Old St Paul's turns 160 this year, and we're collecting stories, memories and reflections from those who have shared in its remarkable history.

On 16 August 1980, Mike and Wendy Lyons were married here. Mike recalls:

'Unfortunately it was horrible weather in August on our wedding day. The wind howled and rain lashed... We were glad to reach the shelter and comfort of Old St Paul's under the challenged cover of a billowing umbrella."

Yet despite the storm, Mike remembers the ceremony as beautiful. Today, as a volunteer, he says he has 'ample time to appreciate the history and architecture of the cathedral and absorb its calming essence.'

Do you have a connection to Old St Paul's? We'd love to hear your story as we celebrate 160 years of this much-loved Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga landmark.

Find out more and submit your memory here: https://www.visitheritage.co.nz/whats-on/wellington-events/old-st-pauls-at-160-stories-memories-reflections

28/05/2026

They’re back! Straight outta Strathmore, Scots College Wellington chamber and choir groups are returning to Old St Paul's for a Musical Punch Over Lunch slot you do not want to miss! ✨ These rangatahi are phenomenal and from 12.30pm next Thursday will pull out all the stops performing sneak previews of their entries for both the Chamber Music Contest AND The Big Sing. See this link for our concert season's full programme: https://www.visitheritage.co.nz/whats-on/wellington-events/musical-punch-over-lunch

27/05/2026

CANNOT WAIT! 👁️⃤

"Lōemis Festival"

18 Jun. (thu) @ Old St Paul’s - Wellington NZ
https://www.loemis.nz/
 
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. :
Kawabata Makoto : guitar, speed guru
Higashi Hiroshi : synthesizer, fishing god
Jyonson Tsu : voice, guitar, bouzouki, midnight whistler
Satoshima Nani : drums, another dimension
Sawano Shozo : bass, hexman
 
door 19:00
ticket : https://www.loemis.nz/acid-mothers-temple

26/05/2026

Because we are!! 🌱 The countdown is on until the Old St Paul's 2026 Craft & Curio Market, and the line-up is already looking incredible. There are still some spaces on Saturday 7 November, so if you fit any of the bill below, please do email [email protected] for details:

🌿 Plant and botanical sellers
📚 Bookbinders, bookmakers, and paper artisans
🍫 Artisan chocolate and jam makers
🧵 Heritage craftspeople
🎨 Artists and illustrators
🪵 Makers of wooden toys, traditional games, and children's treasures
🕰️ Dealers in curios, collectibles, antiques, and oddities

Be Part of Wellington Heritage Festival 2026! 📜

From guided walks and exhibitions to storytelling, performances and community celebrations, Wellington Heritage Festival celebrates the people, places and stories of Te Upoko-o-Te-Ika-a-Māui, the Greater Wellington Region.

We are seeking events from across the region, including Kāpiti Coast, Porirua, Wellington, the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa.

Applications are now open, and this year it’s even simpler, just one application to get started.

🔗 Find out more and apply here: https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/form/application/

🕰️ Applications for our brochure close June 30.

21/05/2026

Next week at Musical Punch Over Lunch we’re thrilled to present Somewhere June – Blenheim-born singer-songwriter Nicole Fyfe and David Fou, a genre-crossing acoustic duo inspired by folk, country, pop and everything in between. Please join us on 28 May at 12.30pm in this beautiful venue to support even more incredible local talent. 🌿

19/05/2026

Faces of Old St Paul’s. Part 27: Meet Amanda Richardson! Originally from Whanganui, Amanda is one of our wonderful new Visitor Hosts, welcoming all who wander through our front doors with absolute aplomb. When she’s not at Old St Paul’s, she’s assessing psychology papers at the Open Polytechnic and volunteering with Take 10 – so that's right, she’s every bit as impressive as she sounds! ✨

18/05/2026

On 6 June, Old St Paul’s marks 160 years at the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. 🌿

For generations, this Gothic Revival masterpiece, now cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, has been the backdrop for music, memories, ceremony and quiet reflection. To acknowledge this milestone, we’re inviting those who know and love Old St Paul’s to contribute to a shared collection of stories and recollections of the building.

We welcome:

– Photographs (past or present)
– Drawings or paintings
– Written reflections or memories
– Music or sound inspired by the space

Selected contributions will be shared in the lead-up to, and around, 6 June across our channels and as part of a growing digital archive of the building’s life.

Submission details:

– Images: high-resolution JPG or PNG (scanned artworks welcome)
– Writing: up to 300 words
– Audio: short recordings (MP3 or WAV)
– Please include your name and a brief description or context
– By submitting, you confirm you’re happy for your work to be shared

Send your contribution to: [email protected]

In gathering these pieces, we hope to reflect not just the history of Old St Paul’s, but the many ways it continues to live in the imaginations and experiences of those who pass through it!