A man has died in a fire outside a Dunedin church, despite desperate rescue efforts from members of the public.

Emergency services were called to King Edward Street at 10.47am where a man was on fire in the car park outside Nations church. A service was taking place inside.

A police spokesperson said members of the public helped to put the fire out, but unfortunately the man died at the scene.

Police were making inquiries into the death.

The church's main services take place at 10am and 6pm on Sundays.

Nations Church promotes itself as valuing relationships with others.

"At Nations, church means people," their website says.

"Ordinary people radically set free by a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, serving Him with all of their hearts, and sharing that new life with others in the community. Such people are worshippers. They enjoy expressing their love for God in a free and contemporary fashion.

"They also see relationships with others as important. True worshippers love others for who they are not what they do. We, at Nations, are also committed to seeing people reach their full potential as they serve Christ in partnership with others."