The loss of St John's Church has hit the Rotorua community hard, but despite the pain congregation members and locals say the spirit of the church will survive the devastating fire.
Long-time church member Duncan Murray said watching it burn was like watching his own house burn down.
"I'm getting emotional, my parents were members ... I've been a member since 1964."
Mr Murray said he was on the board of managers at St John's for 40 years.
He and his wife Jenny, herself a former elder in the church, were married in the old St John's Church.
"[On Wednesday night] I got a phone call and went down to see. It's devastating and really sad. St John's is a real community church, it's a big congregation. People will be very sad today," Mrs Murray said.
St Johns Rotorua church fire. Photo/Stephen Parker
However St John's would recover, she said.
"[It] has an outgoing spirit so things will come together."
Mr Murray added: "It's like falling off a horse, you've got to get back up again."
Locals Bruce Norman and his wife Phillipa stopped by to survey the damage yesterday morning.
Mr Norman said he had played at the church on a number of occasions as he was the musical co-ordinator for the banner group Gabriel's Presence.
As a member of St Mary's Church he said he would like to see his own church open its doors to give the St John's congregation space while it worked out what it did for the future.
"It's devastating to see their loss and we as a community will support them ... it's such a shame to see one of the icons of Rotorua gone," Mr Norman said.
Mrs Norman said their heart went out with great love to the St John community.
Father Eamon Kennedy, of St Mary and St Michael's churches, said the fire was devastating.
"I feel so sorry for the community...I spoke with Minister Reverend Lance Thomas this morning and said we would support them in any way we can."
Father Kennedy said Mr Thomas was happy to receive the phone call and offer of support.
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the community response had been fantastic.
"It shows how we do it in Rotorua... I am proud about the Rotorua way - how we respond to things.
"We are working with the church to see if council-owned community spaces could be used and I hope this offer is accepted."
Councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait echoed the mayor's sentiments.
"I'm sure we all share in the dismay and sadness to hear and see the inferno."
Image 1 of 20: Fire at St John's Church in Rotorua. Photo/Ben Fraser
Christine Pion has been taking her little boy Beaude to Sunbeams music group at the church for the past two years - and was eagerly awaiting it starting up again on Monday after the Christmas break.
"We love going there, the people who run it are amazing. They give so much to our community. It is just so sad knowing it's not there any more."
Ms Pion said she was "just devastated" when she saw the images of the building going up in flames.
She said while she was upset the future of Sunbeams was uncertain, she was also concerned about the people the church helped in the community.
"They help the community every day, that church. There are people who go in every day, where do they go now?"
Ms Pion described the Sunbeams tutor Bonnie as "an amazing human being" and said the weekly music group meant a lot to a lot of mums who went along each week.
"It is an amazingly special place. They always look after us and it is just so, so sad."
"Rotorua desperately needs something like Sunbeams. It is just awesome and such a beautiful experience."
Local singer-songwriter Nev Rolston and his partner Sam Olney want to set up a benefit concert to raise funds.
"We want to help the church to rebuild or go towards a new place. We drove past [yesterday morning] and there were a lot of elderly people outside...I don't like seeing a lot of elderly people upset and out of their church.
"I want to show people that despite something ghastly happening there is always someone out there who will help out."
As St John's Church was known for helping the community through its foodbank, Rotorua Salvation Army corps officer Kylie Overbye wanted to reassure the community there was plenty of food at the Salvation Army foodbank for those that needed it.
"There is no need for people to go without."
She said the Sallies would be letting the St John's community know they had their support.
