All furnishings and fittings inside the 120-year-old, pioneer-era church were taken away and securely stored.
Volunteers cleaned up a huge amount of dust and a rats' nest when the 40 to 50-year-old Pinex floor and ceiling were removed.
Ninety-five new exterior weatherboards were primed for installation.
The acrylic primer undercoat and future paint supplies were donated by Guthrie Bowron Queenstown owners Kate and Tas Dawson.
Mrs Dawson's paternal great-grandfather was William Valpy, a member of the family who built the church in 1889.
Head of the Lake Community Church Trust chairwoman Ruth-Ann Anderson, of Glenorchy, said "phenomenal" progress had been made yesterday.
The atmosphere among volunteers and trustees was energetic, she said.
"But we have to be the least glamorous people you've seen for a long time.
We're covered in monotone grey dust.
When the face masks come off, we're going to have a reverse panda thing going on."
The restoration of the multidenominational church was being funded by $55,000 in grants from the Community Trust of Southland, the Central Lakes Trust and the Wakatipu Community Church.
The Wakatipu Anglican Church pledged $500 this month.
Builder Mike Kingan starts work on the empty and cleaned church today by replacing the weatherboards.
A working bee to paint the interior and exterior would be scheduled when they were ready.
