Our History

A group of inner-city congregations – St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church (now St. Andrew’s on the Terrace), Wesley Methodist Church, joined soon afterwards by the Religious Society of Friends – came together to respond to the needs of the rapidly changing inner city area of Wellington. ICM (Inner City Ministry) sought to find ways of helping those who lived in the city, but who were marginalised by it, to take greater control of their lives.

ICM became an incorporated society in 1989 and changed its name to DCM (Downtown Community Ministry) in 1995. Many projects were undertaken by ICM over the first 25 years of its existence, such as Vincent’s Art Gallery, the Pantry (now Foodbank), the Street People Project (now Money Management Service), the Clean Team, and the People’s Resource Centre.

Since its inception, the membership and support base of DCM has expanded and evolved, as has the nature and scope of its work. In 1995 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and in 1997 St. John’s in the City, became members. In 2009 Temple Sinai became a member, and in 2014 Elim International Church and Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish became members.

For 24 years, DCM’s largest fundraiser was an annual Bookfair, a lifeline for DCM in terms of funding, and an iconic event in the city for book lovers.

Today DCM continues to receive funds and practical support from the people of Wellington. We have a diverse and sustainable funding base – which includes Wellington City Council, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and charitable trusts. DCM celebrated its 50th birthday in 2019.

Pictured: ‘Housing Crisis’ headline in Downtown Magazine, 1972; the late Graham Howell collecting food from St. John's Pantry; DCM's long-serving staff member Pam Whittington with donated food, Christmas 1988 (Pam created The Survival Guide to Wellington and published Don’t Kick Me When I’m Down: Struggling to Survive in the City in 1995); DCM's board, 1994-95; queue for the DCM Bookfair, 1996; Ngaire and Vivienne from the Clean Team; DCM's Street Footie team, 2009; DCM's ukulele band performing on Waitangi Day, 2013.