After 113 years, an iconic but earthquake-prone Wellington church has closed its doors out of fear for churchgoers' safety.
The famous terracotta-coloured St Gerard's Church drew in a crowd of hundreds for its last Sunday mass.
It isn't up to earthquake safety standards, and after countless services, its current owners - an international Catholic mission - are shutting up shop.
"The earthquake risk is very strong and we have decided that until the church can be strengthened it's best to close it," owner Rainer Hensel says.
Even with an updated deadline of 2037, that work could be out of reach.
Earthquake strengthening will cost $11 million, but the owners have fundraised around $42,000 - just a fraction of what they need.
"Something like this you cannot raise with sausage sizzles," Hensel says.
City Councillor Nicola Young is renewing her calls for the owners to sell up. She hopes its closing is a wake-up call.
"It's not going to be saved until the owners sell it because they're never going to get the money together to strengthen that building," she says.
Hensel says he would sell "if need be".
Despite estimating all of the upgrades to the church and attached monastery at $20 million, heritage developer Maurice Clark is thinking about buying it.
"Someone needs to acquire it," he says.
Clark would own the church in a trust, get it up to code, then sell it on.
"It could be a hotel - but it's a bit isolated for that. It could be a university building."
Wellingtonians Newshub spoke to say they're sad to see it shut.
"It's a sad day for Wellington," one says.
"[The church is] so Wellington, isn't it," another says.
