First Church strives to proclaim the Good News through the witness of its diverse and multi cultural congregations.

First Church has a history dating back to the first Free Church settlers in Otago and beyond them to the Scottish disruption of 1843. Today it is a diverse community made up of people whose ancestors have come from Europe, the Pacific, the Americas, Asia and Africa. On any one Sunday, a significant proportion of the congregation may be people travelling through New Zealand as tourists and visitors.

The valuing and celebration of our diverse languages, culture and histories as well as an ongoing commitment to the welcoming of visitors and migrants are important aspects of First Church's life.

As a church in the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions, we place special value on the Preaching of the Word, on the order and dignity of worship and church affairs and being an open and inclusive community. We welcome all those who are seeking to follow the way of Jesus to join in celebrating Communion which we hold four times a year as a combined event for all of our congregations.