The roof of St Luke's Union Church is being thrown open to the heavens in the latest round of quake-strengthening work at the historic Masterton building.
Church building taskforce convener Robin Dunlop said about six roofing and building workers had started replacing steel tiles and bracing the roof of the church in a revamp phase that precedes major quake strengthening work expected to cost up to $500,000.
He said the roof work is expected to be completed within two weeks. A decision will be made tomorrow about the congregation gathering in the church building or hall for worship on Sunday.
The roof work comes after the church entranceway was strengthened last year and the congregation had been raising funds for the wider project since 2012 after discovering the building was less than 40 per cent compliant to the latest earthquake building codes.
The church is the only gothic-style brick church in Wairarapa and is on the Masterton District Council heritage list. The building survived the 1942 earthquake with some damage, though the parish took eight years to raise enough funds for its repair at the time.
