The land of the Iona Presbyterian Church was a gift from John Charles Icarad in 1858. However, at that time, Blockhouse Bay was too far out of the city to support a church. St Ninian’s in Avondale was the closest church at that time, and they took care of the gift until more people moved out to this new suburb.
The first church hall in the area was built in 1903 on a different site in Blockhouse Bay, and the hall was used by different church groups until it burnt down in 1930.
The Blockhouse Bay suburbs were originally developed as a weekend destination, but opened up for more permanent houses when a new road network allowed the first motor cars to drive down Donovan Street in the 1920s. Moving about was also easier once a horse-driven bus service to Mt Albert was started.
Regular interdenominational services started more regularly in the 1940s and eventually formed the Baptist Church in Blockhouse Bay Rd as we know it today.
The Methodist and Presbyterian members decided in 1952 to start building their own church on the site gifted by John Icarad in Donovan Street. The first service was held on the 20th July of that year, but the dedication service on the 17th of August 1952 is considered to be the founding date for Iona. The manse was built next to the church in 1958.
The church grew steadily over the following years, and an extension to accommodate the youth groups, Sunday School, and other community groups was dedicated in 1962. Sunday School classrooms were added and major renovations to the church building in 1965 included the distinctive stain glass windows on three sides of the church.
The church was extended again in 2000 when a new entrance, foyer, offices, and other amenities were added to complete the building complex it is today.
The buildings are now used regularly by Iona groups, and also by several other community groups including the Girl Guides’ Tui, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers groups, Girls’ Brigade, and Indian and Pacific Island congregations.
