The Chapman Memorial Hall 

in memory of a faithful servant

The St. Mary Magdalene Parish Hall in Ashhurst has been renamed and dedicated to Mr Charles Edward Chapman (Eddie), a long-time active member of our parish at St Mary Magdalene's church, until his death in 2024.

Eddie was a devout Christian, church member, church warden, vestry member, lay leader, elder, maintenance man, gardener, lawn mower, and just about everything else he could be, was a veteran of the RAF during World War II, a POW, was a respected farmer in the community - all the time keeping Christ centered in his life. A man of God.

It was an honour to have known him and worshiped with him. He is sadly missed by so many.  

The New Hall

The church hall rebuild project of 2023-2025 has left us with an amazing facility that is leaps ahead of what we had in the past. This 'upgrade' had been talked about for many years beginning with the Rev Michael Russell decades earlier, and was always pushed back. Now it has been completed, with finance, timing and circumstances that can only be 'God-incidences'.

It has resulted in a 'near commercial' style kitchen, a lounge area, a meeting or prayer room, unisex toilet facilities including a shower, and plenty of storage space for our parish needs. It has increased the space for those occasions such as dinners, weddings and funerals that has been lacking in the past.

Sound and TV capabilities were included for extending happenings in the church, for public or community meetings, seminars, small concerts etc.

This has involved many in the parish, a building committee that included Barbara, Phil, Helen and Neill, but our previous Lay Minister Lyn O'Fee and Project Manager Neil O'Fee must take most of the credit for pushing the project and 'getting it done'. There is a 'time line of events' on the Parish website.

The refurbished Chapman Hall was consecrated by Archbishop Justin Duckworth on Saturday 14th December 2024, with many of the Chapman family and past parishioners present. The Palmerston North City Council Code of Compliance was granted on 17th December 2025 - 12 months late, but we are now excited to be able to rent it out to the public.

Public & Community Group Hire

As we have done in the past, we are making our refurbished hall available to the public for use - for your meetings, event or group events, small music concerts, occasions or activities. Along with the church, the hall is available for use for your small wedding and reception and your funeral needs.

Please remember that we are a church, and part of the New Zealand Anglican Communion. If we believe your event goes against our beliefs or principles, we would not be comfortable letting you use it and may decline your request. Our church is sacred ground, and we follow the beliefs and teachings of Jesus Christ.

To use our hall, you will need to fill in this form (or email us if the form won't work on your device) We will then contact you for further information and make a time for you to visit and sign our current 'hall hire document' which includes agreeing to our health and safety requirements, to discuss our deposit or bond and any other requirements or costs that may apply to your use. We require our hall users to maintain a high standard of care while using the hall.

NB: Please understand that any request is not a guarantee of hire or use. Also note that there is a maximum number of 98 persons permitted in the hall.