The historic St Mungo’s church on a corner site in Clyde is for sale as change and growth continues in the Central town.

Alexandra, Clyde, Lauder Union Parish minister Reverend Andrew Howley said it was a long process to make the decision to sell St Mungo’s, taking 18 months to two years.

He said for members of the parish there were a range of emotions, some people acknowledged it was necessary to sell and others were grieving the loss.

“[That’s expected when it comes to] selling a place of significance within your spiritual lives.”

The green space and large tree, a popular spot for locals to take a break in the shade and enjoy an ice cream would also be missed.

Rev. Andrew said Clyde had changed significantly in the past ten years, and that change could create some uncertainty.

“The pub has gone, the petrol station has gone, the Four Square is now a Night ‘n Day and the hall is at risk.”

An aerial view of the property. PHOTO: Colliers 

St Mungo’s Presbyterian Church, Clyde pictured on March 1, 1904. PHOTO: Supplied 

There have been four other Alexandra, Clyde, Lauder Union Parish churches that have been sold, all more than 10 years ago.

They were located in Earnscleugh, Poolburn, Ophir and Becks.

Rev. Andrew said the Ophir one had become accommodation, the Becks one had been moved and become a chapel elsewhere, but he wasn't sure about the other two as their sales occurred before he was in his role in Central.

There was a formal decommissioning service and afternoon tea at St Mungo’s on Sunday February 2 led by Southern Presbytery moderator reverend Andrew Harrex.

Rev. Andrew Howley said approximately 70 to 80 people, including a number of older family members attended to celebrate and farewell St Mungo’s role in the spiritual life of the congregation.

The parish had gone through a process of determining where items inside the church were gifted from and to. 

Some special items would be moved to St Enoch’s church in Alexandra, some to Clyde Museum and some were returned to families.

Andrew said some members would be going to other churches but there was still a group gathering in Clyde as Christians of the parish to connect for fellowship. 

St Mungo’s is located at 60 Sunderland St, on 1619sqm of land across two titles. It is for sale by deadline private treaty closing at 4pm on March 11.  

The current rating valuation (as at October 1, 2022) is $790,000. 

Colliers director Mark Simpson said St Mungo’s was a unique property and there had been a reasonable amount of interest in it.

Mark said the interest had come from a range of prospective purchasers, people interested in doing something with the church and developers wanting to utilise the land and its prime location. 

While he had not been an agent for a church before, Colliers had experience of selling churches before.

He said there were several factors involved in bringing churches to market including the location, underlying zoning and whether there was a historic listing (there is not in the case of St Mungo’s). 

The property does fall within the Clyde historic zone which does provide some conditions on design and build requirements to keep the historic theme of Clyde intact.

The church was opened on September 2, 1894 and Rev. Rutherford Waddell and Rev. R. Sutherland from Dunedin conducted the first service.

For information on the property contact [email protected]

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