History

The impressive stone church overlooking Port Chalmers is actually the third building of the Presbyterian Church. The first was a small wooden building to hold 150 people and built in 1852, the second, a much more substantial structure, became the church hall when the present building was erected in 1885 designed to hold 500-600 people.
​There was no organ in the building until 1907 A Casson Positive organ. Through the generous gift of a Mrs Mary Mill the present instrument was given to the church in 1928, as a memorial to her late husband John Mill, who was a prominent member of the church and the Port Chalmers community.
The instrument was built by Hill and Son, and had started life in 1854, it was extensively rebuilt into its present form in 1898. A major restoration took place in 1997-98. The church’s fabric has been progressively restored over the years, a major task being the repair of the North East Tracery window. To enable this work to be done, the organ had to be moved and it was decided to relocate the instrument to the side gallery position, a move that allows more light into the building and has enhanced the organ.
This is a very important 19th century instrument from the firm of Hill & Sons.

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Parking notes: Iona church is up a hill, and there is some parking at the base of the driveway leading up to the church. There is some parking on the street around the church.