The 60 year old Douglas Memorial Presbyterian Church at Fox Glacier, on the south western coast of the South Island of New Zealand, was built in 1954. Constructed of stone and native rimu timber, it was used for 50 years or so as a community church, however the falling numbers of parishioners led to it being surplus to the Church’s requirements and it was put up for sale in 2012. In April of 2013, AJ Thompson and Roz Davenport saw that the building had become available for purchase and were determined to restore it to its original glory, as well as further enhance its features and character. They purchased it from the Presbyterian Church of NZ and set about undertaking all the work required to convert it from a character building with walls, floor and a roof (all in need of work!) to a luxury, fully self-contained dwelling. Drawing on time spent in Basque Country in the north of Spain over the last couple of years training and racing long-distance triathlon, AJ sourced the kitchen, bathroom and almost all the furniture and fittings from Europe, with the result being a building with fantastic contrast and luxurious appointments.
Ideally suited to couples, but with the ability to sleep more by special arrangement, The Church at FOX is one of a kind, luxury, self-contained accommodation available for rent right in the heart of Fox Glacier township, an area known for its remoteness, stunning scenery, imposing natural features and home of one of the only 3 glaciers in the world to transcend climate zones from high alpine to almost sea level.