The former St Joseph’s Catholic Church, a listed building in Pirongia.
Rebecca Jones bought a converted church, added a church-like side building which became a take-away outlet – and now wants to enjoy life at the beach.
Prongia Takeaways.
Jones bought the converted rimu Pirongia church – built in 1912 – eight years ago and gave up smoking to help fund a $10,000 resource consent to establish Pirongia Takeaways.
She and husband Clinton opened the Beechey Street business just seven months ago – but have now put it on the market.
“We want to move to the beach,” Rebecca said.
The couple decided during a fishing trip in Kāwhia in 2023 to open Pirongia Takeaways. Rebecca gave up her job as a logging truck driver and Clinton left his job as a builder to make it happen.
“We built it with our own four hands,” Rebecca said.
The couple work in the business and employ three staff.
The home and business on a 2023 square metre site is on the market for just under $1.3 million.
The church was deconsecrated in 1993 and has been listed as an Historic Place by Heritage New Zealand since 1985.
A history of the Catholic Church in Pirongia
St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pirongia was deconsecrated in 1993. Photo: Jamie Mackay, Heritage NZ
St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pirongia pictured in 2006. Photo: Hanna Peters, Heritage NZ
The heritage listed former church
The arched windows are a feature of the former church, now a house.
