The Maori Hill Presbyterian Church may be the latest to succumb to high earthquake strengthening costs and lower congregation numbers, as members try to decide its future.
A recent annual meeting could not decide on a way forward after voting on options that involved demolishing the 1920 building and replacing it with a smaller modern building.
The Highgate parish will, however, have its last service at the church at Labour Weekend, before parishioners move to the nearby Coronation Hall.
Highgate Presbyterian Church minister the Rev Geoffrey Skilton said the building was an earthquake risk.
''As leaders, we have decided we don't think it's right to keep asking people to meet in a building that's below code.''
Apart from health and safety issues, it was hard to heat the building for its congregation of between 60 and 80.
But he said the parish was committed to remaining on the site of the church.
''We're committed to being a church in the community right here.''
This latest possible end of a church building comes after both earthquake strengthening costs and dwindling numbers have resulted in the closure or sale of churches across Dunedin.
In 2012, the Roslyn Presbyterian Church in Highgate was sold to a Korean religious group for $370,000.
The church had become surplus after the merger of the Maori Hill and Roslyn parishes in 2005.
Last year, the historic Andersons Bay Presbyterian Church held its last service after a move to dissolve the parish received final approval.
The parish faced dwindling numbers, dwindling finances, and an earthquake assessment that meant repair costs which could not be covered.
In April this year Catholic churches St Bernadette's, St Brigid's and St Alphonsus' held their final Masses as the congregations merged with the parish at St Patrick's Basilica.
Mr Skilton said a property task group from within the Highgate parish had discussed with the congregation two years ago ''what it might look like if we weren't going to be able to continue in the building''.
The group came back with a plan it took to the congregation two or three months ago, with drawings of possible designs for a new building on the site.
One option was financially out of reach, and the second did not get a required 75% vote at the meeting to go ahead.
''We're back to thinking about what we're going to do.''
Whatever happened, Mr Skilton said the parish was looking at ''probably, at some point, a demolition''.
''The congregation will be worshipping at the Coronation Hall from the end of the month.
''At this stage, I really don't know exactly what we're doing, apart from the fact that it's unlikely we'll be back in the existing church building itself.''
Of the views of the congregation on the issue, he said ''I think it's a mixed bag''.
That 75% of the congregation did not support an option presented ''shows that there's some voices that aren't convinced''.
Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland executive officer Fergus Sime said it had worked with the parish, but the parish was yet to approach the Synod with proposals.
The Synod had the final say in all property matters.
''In the end we have to make a decision as to what happens.''
