Epsom: Sweet hereafter

The site’s original homestead, Clovernook (left), was pulled down to make way for the Newmarket Viaduct. Photo / Geoff Dale

A country church has been reincarnated as a stylish city pad, writes Suzanne McFadden.

56 Gillies Ave, Epsom.

Almost 120 years ago, a little church was built in a field south east of Auckland for the Wesleyan parish of Flat Bush to worship in.

Today the church lives on, but in another incarnation and another location - in a spot that claims its own place in New Zealand's colonial history.

The restored wooden building is now a stunning studio home in Gillies Ave, Epsom, sitting on the site which was once home to Clovernook, one of the city's original colonial homesteads.

Clovernook was built here, on the ridge overlooking Newmarket, around 1857 by a retired English doctor, Andrew Buchanan. Its only neighbour was Highwic, the historic house which still stands on Gillies Ave.

Tragically, Clovernook was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Newmarket Viaduct. But the original stone steps to the house are still there, wending down to Clovernook Road and Newmarket's retail centre.

In 1991, Auckland barrister Barry Wilson, leader of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, moved the dilapidated Flat Bush church from a paddock in south Auckland to the old Clovernook site. It became a renovation project to share with his sons, and was later used as his law offices.

Today's owner, Anna Foy, bought the property from the Wilsons in 1999 - falling in love with its history.

"I have a fascination with things theological," says Anna, who has a copy of a Sunday School book from the original church services. "It was so quirky and different. For the same price, I could have bought a townhouse that looked like 20 other townhouses around it."

Her husband John has a passion for early New Zealand history, in particular the New Zealand Land Wars. The church was built in 1886, at the end of the wars.

The couple, both anaesthetists, admit they are reluctantly selling the house to buy a larger, family home - their son, Max, turns one next week.

"It's going to be sad to see it go, because there's such a wonderful feeling about this place. I love the sense of space, and it is so close to everything; we would walk down to the shops, the movies, have dinner in Chinese Alley. Even though you are in town, it's so peaceful here."

The church still has its original sarked timber ceilings, gables and kauri and rimu floors. Two doorways lead into the vestry, which has been transformed into a bathroom. Wooden stairs climb to a platform on the roof of the bathroom, which can be used as a little mezzanine bedroom.

The nave of the church, where parishioners once sat to hear the Sunday sermon, is now an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area, with a welcome pot belly fireplace at its centre. A row of tall glass doors along the eastern wall open to a wooden deck.

At the end of the huge room is a cathedral-like conservatory - all glass and Fijian kauri - which the Wilsons added during their restoration. Another little quirk: the room has 14 power points. Anna has used the conservatory as a bedroom and a lounge.

Even though the Southern Motorway zooms overhead, there is little more than a hum of traffic in the sanctuary of the church.

"It's a surreal feeling with the motorway above, but the house is in a sound shadow so you hardly notice the cars going by," Anna says.

The house sits on a large, sloping section, which is mostly mature native and fruit trees - macadamia and avocado. On the edge of the property, you can still see the foundation stones of the grand old lady, Clovernook, now sharing her grounds with the charming little church.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 922sq m, house 133sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $440,000. Auction May 11.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun, 3-3.45pm. Additional access from Clovernook Road.

CONTACT: Sue Ryan, Unlimited Potential, ph 529 1478, 021 923 723 mob; Steve Grey, ph 529 4390, 021 659 740 mob.

FEATURES: Historic home, modern kitchen, pot belly fireplace, large kauri conservatory, deck overlooking mature native trees.