St Patrick's Chapel

A sacred place to connect with one another and with the Christian faith at Dilworth School

The spiritual heart of Dilworth School

The new St Patrick’s Chapel at Dilworth Senior School offers students and the wider community a sacred space for spiritual reflection, connection with God and with one another, in a setting immersed in nature. As part of their Anglican education, Dilworth students regularly attend chapel services. With the recent inclusion of Year 9 boys on the senior campus, a larger chapel was needed to accommodate up to 775 students and whānau, replacing the current 425-seat chapel.

The Dilworth Trust Board envisioned the new St Patrick’s Chapel as a space that would evoke spiritual awe and honour the school’s architectural heritage, while providing a multi-functional, valuable community asset. Collaboration with Reverend Greg Worboys shaped the spatial planning, from arrival through to ceremonial procession. Departing from a traditional long, narrow nave, the main worship hall takes a contemporary approach to congregation with a wide, inclusive arrangement that enhances connection and community.

Inside, timber-lined folded ceilings rise to create a majestic triple-height volume that draws the eye toward the sanctuary and trees beyond. A red-hued stained-glass cross – a replica of the original St Patrick’s icon – illuminates the foyer and forms a striking backdrop to the baptismal font, which was donated to Dilworth in the 1950s. Additional stained-glass windows, designed by Old Boy Jon Chapman-Smith in collaboration with students, illuminate the side chapel providing a more intimate space for smaller services, quiet prayer and reflection.

While foremost a place of worship, the chapel’s acoustic and technical infrastructure enables multiple uses. Spatial and acoustic design work hand-in-hand to support both amplified and unamplified performance, optimised for a range in scale – from full choir and congregation supported by the organ to intimate string quartet performances, and amplified live bands.

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Rooted in place

Nestled within a cherished part of the campus, the site holds deep ecological significance. Mature trees pre-dating the school’s 1906 founding form a cathedral-like canopy that was central to the chapel’s design vision and siting, requiring significant protection throughout construction.

The restrained material palette – locally sourced brick matched to the historic campus character, combined with warm timber linings and aluminium cladding – delivers durability, refinement and acoustic performance. All primary materials are specified for potential reuse or recycling at end-of-life, supporting circular economy principles. The building’s southeast orientation and mature tree canopy work together to naturally minimise solar gain, reducing the need for artificial shading and reduce the energy requirements for supplementary cooling systems.

Reflection and renewal

Positioned prominently at the school’s main entry, the chapel reinforces the central role of spiritual life within the Dilworth community and stands as a symbol of renewal. Following the devastating revelations of abuse at the boarding school, the chapel represents hope and supports the deep cultural transformation the school is undertaking. From its inception, Dilworth’s mission has been to develop young men of good character, achieving personal excellence and flourishing in life. All those involved in this project share a profound commitment to this vision.

Jasmax acknowledges the suffering and trauma experienced by victims, survivors, whānau, future generations and all members of the community impacted by historic abuse at Dilworth School.

We set out to create a calming, flexible, affordable, and enduring space – and what’s been delivered truly reflects that. The project team has done an outstanding job throughout the journey, from design to completion. It’s a space I hope will support students and their families in many ways for years to come.

— Peter Alexander, Deputy Board Chair and Chair of Dilworth’s Property Committee

As an Old Boy having spent years in the old chapel, it was wonderful to see the scale, openness, warmth and light of the new design. I loved how the new chapel doesn’t seek to align with the old but offers something completely new whilst the timeless glass, wood and stone preserves our traditions and the vision of our Founders.

— Aaron Hockly, Old Boy, Dilworth Trustee and property leader