Extensive repiling at St John’s Union Parish Church will be completed in time for Sunday’s morning service, says builder and lay preacher Don Davies.

He was taken aback by the squeaking under his feet as he preached in the 118-year-old building.

“Every time I stopped walking and stood in one spot to say something, the floor squeaked like Billy-o. Then we got the earthquake report on the building, which showed the piles had never been tied down to the bearers.

“We got under the floor to have a look and saw the original totara piles were mostly rotten. Somebody had got in there and laid concrete blocks on the ground with jack studs but there were no ties anywhere.

“So, this week we’ve put in Tanapiles at 1350 centres and strapped them with four stainless steel straps per pile. The outside perimeter wall, which is concrete, has been braced with stainless steel straps bolted into it.”

While there remained a few “little areas” that needed some work, he saw no reason why the building could not serve its community for years to come.

“This church is a work of art; I was lying on my back looking up through one of the holes in the floor just admiring the ceiling. It’s stunning.

“It’s an example of superb craftsmanship of another time, even more remarkable when you consider the bulk of the work was voluntary. The specially made trusses and sarking, which look to be kauri, are as good as anything I have seen elsewhere.

“One of the first things settlers did when they came to an area was put up a school and a church. These days, the schools are there, but the churches are turning into cafes etc.”

But where St John’s is concerned Mr Davies believes better things are coming.

“Just like this building, we are on a solid foundation – which in our case is Christ.

“Just as with this building, it’s possible to mistakenly think it’s all over because you’re just too old, or whatever.

“Later this month I’m going to share a vision I had many years ago.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are or how inadequate you feel there’s always a second chance with God. You may be old, but you can still pray. Like this building you can be revived and used to accomplish great things.”