New Year Honour a seismic shock for quake-repair priest Father Barry Scannell

RECOGNISED: Father Barry Scannell has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's New Year Honours. PHOTO/Supplied.

New Year Honours: Father Barry Scannell, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community and heritage preservation.

For Father Barry Scannell hearing the news that he has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's New Year Honours list is "overwhelming and surprising", but he feels "humbled and proud" to be recognised.

In 2010, Father Barry became the Parish Priest of St Mary of the Angels church in central Wellington and was the driving force behind its seismic strengthening work, following the 2013 Seddon Earthquake.

It was successfully reopened in April and the crypt and choir room still have a small amount of work yet to complete.

"I feel very surprised but very humbled but I think it is an honour not only for me but for all the people who have been so generous to help with the seismic strengthening in terms of their generosity because if people hadn't of donated the money we wouldn't have been able to do it."

He said one of the highlight of his life would be seismic strengthening, as it was a "tremendous challenge".

"I was so lucky to be surrounded by really wonderful people and the construction firm of L T Mcguinness Ltd were just outstanding so I think that would have to be a highlight of my life."

He was the key driver of the raising of almost $10 million in donations and internationally recognised experts in architecture and construction were engaged for the project.

Since 1994, he has contributed to the Society of Mary in New Zealand and has also ministered in Marist parishes in Hastings, Blenheim, Epsom and Pakuranga.

He has a personal connection with Hawke's Bay, having spent five years training when the now Mission Estate Winery was once Mt St Mary's seminary, before it moved to Auckland in 1990.

It is a homecoming of sorts for the priest, who has been appointed to Napier as a Parish Priest, and will take up that role after his three-month sabbatical during the middle of the year.

"I feel a great deal of joy especially because it was such a significant project for Wellington and once we knew that we had to strengthen the building we got in and did it and there's so many other buildings like the Wellington Town Hall or the cathedrals in Christchurch that have just been sitting there for a long time for years and nothing has been done so I'm very proud of the fact that we actually made the decision to close it."

Having faith that people would respond was a big part of the project, Father Barry noted.

"I think in terms of the church it means a lot to generations of Wellington Catholics, and what I feel great about is people can come back and celebrate the significant things in their lives like baptisms, weddings, funerals or whatever it may be."

At the time they made the announcement that the church would be closed for a number of years, he said he felt a great deal of sadness telling 25 brides that their weddings would not be in the church or for families of the church to learn they couldn't have their funerals there.

"I think one of the real joys for me now is that people can once again celebrate the significant things back in the church."

As he was unable to tell people the good news, he was "looking forward to be able to share this with other people when it is announced".