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History: The land on which the old Presbyterian Church was built, together with the adjoining plots, was a gift from the Government in 1851. This land was granted on condition that a clock was installed in the tower of the church. Building work on the church was commenced in 1852, but work was, delayed owing to lack of funds and it was only completed two years later. The clock, however, was not installed at that time.
The tower was raised, strengthened and plastered in 1874 and the clock was duly installed in the belfry. This clock, known as the Town Clock, became redundant when a similar one was erected in the nearby tower of the City Hall. The church clock and bell was sold to the Greytown Queens Diamond Jubilee Committee in 1897 and they still continue to function in the Town Hall at Greytown.
In 1883 the Church was enlarged by the addition of the back portion and this gave the building its characteristic T shape. It served as a church until 1942 when it was sold to the Government. Apart from minor alterations to accommodate the offices of government officials after the takeover, the main structure of the building has remained unchanged.
The architecture of the tower is Victoria Gothic Revival and is typical of the Presbyterian churches of that period.
During the crisis caused by the Zulu War in 1879,this church was converted into a fortified place of refuge although the need to use it never arose. It was also enclosed within the wooden stockade which was built at that time.
Visual Description: It is built in shale.
Colours:
Site Features: In Tatham Art Gallery gardens
Condition: fair
Construction Date: 1854c
Materials: random uncut stone :
Catalogue: Pmb, 1987, No: , Significance Category: