Former brothel becomes a church

A former Queenstown brothel has a new owner - a Christian church group.

Queenstown Christian leaders Chris and Janet Barraclough have moved their Vineyard Church into the former Candy's Gentlemen's Club in Shotover St.

The former brothel, which offered spas, sauna and massages, closed in December when the building's lease ran out.

The first Vineyard church was founded in California in 1974 and there are now more than 1500 churches globally.

A sign outside the building described Vineyard Churches as "orthodox and evangelical in belief, while at the same time practising Pentecostal power".

- NZPA