Police investigate fire that destroyed Napier's St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Monday 26 October 2026 · 4 outlets · 4 reports · updated In this story Fire and Emergency New Zealand
A fire destroyed St Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Tennyson Street in Napier early Monday morning. While the congregation reported everyone is safe, police are investigating the cause of the blaze. One man has been charged with arson in relation to two suspicious fires in the city.
Key facts
4 facts
- St Paul’s Presbyterian Church fire occurred around 1am Monday on Tennyson Street, Napier.
- No injuries were reported following the blaze.
- A 47-year-old man was arrested and charged with arson following two suspicious fires.
- The church's internal sanctuary was lost but the external structure remained intact.
The full story
1 min read · 4 outlets
A fire destroyed St Paul’s Presbyterian Church on Tennyson Street in Napier at approximately 1am on Monday. Emergency services, including crews from Napier, Hastings, Taradale, and Bay View, attended the scene. The fire was extinguished shortly after 2am and no injuries were reported.
Co-minister Reverend Mark Johnston said the damage to the internal sanctuary was significant and unrepairable. While the roof buckled and the interior was charred, the external structure remained intact due to metal trusses. Pews that had survived the 1931 earthquake were also destroyed or charred.
Police are investigating the circumstances of the blaze. A 47-year-old man has been arrested and charged with arson and wilfully setting fire to a property on Market Street following two suspicious fires in the city. Police are also making enquiries regarding the fire at the church.
The church's administration offices, kitchen, lounge, and toilets remain operable. Reverend Johnston stated that the congregation will need to reimagine their future on the site, though no decision has been made regarding a rebuild.
How it developed
- Mon 26 Oct, 4:15pmA 47-year-old man was arrested and charged with arson following two suspicious fires in the city, including one on Market Street.
Where reports differ
- One report states the original church was destroyed by fire in 1929, while another notes a rebuilt church was destroyed by fire months before it could reopen after the 1931 earthquake.
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, RNZ, Stuff and 1News.