Built in 1877, the church was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I heritage building.

St Paul's was built in 1877 as a Presbyterian church on the corner of Cashel and Madras Streets in the Christchurch Central City.

[1] Both church buildings were designed by Samuel Farr;[2] the later one commissioned by the reverend John Elmslie.

[citation needed] On 5 August 2009, the church was the victim of an arson attack that caused considerable damage.

[5] St Paul's was listed as a Category I heritage building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust on 2 April 1985 with registration number 305.