Coastal Unity Parish administrator Wendy Crawford said Sidey Hall at the Caversham Presbyterian Church bore the brunt of the damage.
Vandals entered the building sometime on Monday night and smashed windows, sprayed fire extinguishers through the hall, smashed light bulbs showering a room in glass, tipped over cabinets and made a cocktail of cooking oil and other products from the pantry which they tipped on carpets, Mrs Crawford said.
The clean-up continued through Wednesday.
The vandals also entered the main church building, a category 1 listed building constructed in 1882 of bluestone and Oamaru stone, but caused less damage there, and did not smash any of the stained glass windows.
''I think it's wanton destruction and it's hugely disappointing.''
Mrs Crawford said four windows of the toy library had also been smashed, but the offenders did not manage to gain entry to that building.
Property belonging to community groups had been damaged in the attack, and the church had been forced to cancel all meetings this week.
Presbyterian minister the Rev John Daniel, of Dunedin, said the parish did not want to ''hold any grudges,'' about the attack.
''Maybe as a community we need to provide something for folks ... who don't have
anywhere to vent their
energy or their disappointment with life, or whatever's happened to them ... Perhaps we need to do more.''
The incident was reported to police on Tuesday.
A police spokeswoman said officers had carried out a forensic examination of the scene.
Dunedin police (03)471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.
