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Firefighters have contained a blaze in a historic Wellington church this evening.
Wellington Fire communications shift manager Mike Wanoa said firefighters responded to three separate alarms in the church on the corner of Willis and Ghuznee streets around 6.22pm.
Firefighters broke into the building to ascertain the extent of the blaze, he said.
"At the height of fire we had six fire appliances, two aerial appliances and a command unit there to help out."
Mr Wanoa said the fire crew employed fire suppression tactics with breathing apparatus and one hose reel to extinguish the blaze.
Firefighters are still at the scene. Smoke is still visible in the church surrounds.
Built in 1879, St Peter's Church was the work of a noted architect, Thomas Turnbull, and is regarded as a significant example of the Gothic style in timber.
Noted on the Wellington City Council's heritage buildings website for its high aesthetic value, the church is built of heart kauri and clad in rusticated weatherboards.
- NZPA
