Deeper and Further
We are at an exciting time in the life of our church. Over the last six years, we have grown from a congregation of 30 to over 320. Under God, we have planted new congregations, including Australia’s first Mongolian speaking service, and we have started new ministries that are blessing our community.
Our desire is for the grace and truth of Jesus to go deeper into the heart of our church, and further into the community and beyond. To see that happen in a sustainable way our property needs some attention.
Could you consider partnering with us in this?
1. Why do we need a building project?
Our strategic plan identified that in this 5 year period (2021- 2025) we need to make some improvements to our property, particularly in our kids and youth ministry spaces.
Since identifying that need our site has hit its capacity on Sunday mornings. Our property does not suit our current needs, let alone the needs of future generations of worshipers at St Paul’s.
2. Why don’t we just plant more congregations?
This is a great question! We have benefited from people being sent to us and we long to send others to plant and revitalise other churches. This is not an either, or moment. We will continue to be a sending church. To do that in a sustainable way we need to put some attention and care into our property.
3. Can the diocese help?
The diocese will not provide any money for this project. We are speaking with the Sydney Anglican Loan Board which offers simple loans with competitive interest rates and fees.
4. Why not just spend the money we have received?
Parish Council sees this as a stewarding moment. We have received 1.6 million dollars from the sale of a property, a large bequest, and a state government grant. We ourselves have not yet contributed to this project. Our grant application was also successful because we made a case that we need to improve the facilities in our lower hall and main hall for our needs, but also the needs of the wider community. Over the last two years construction costs have increased up to 40% which means spending all that we have got won’t fulfill the design brief.
Fundamentally though, Parish Council sees this as an opportunity to use money we have received from others, for the good of future generations of St Paul’s and the wider community.
5. What will the project do?
The pressing need is to improve our facilities for kids and youth ministry. Initially, we had hoped to find increased space in the lower hall for this, but that is no longer a viable option with heritage and budget constraints. What is proposed is to build a new structure at the northern end of the hall which will have multipurpose spaces upstairs, a kitchen, a large foyer, and bathrooms on the ground floor. The main hall will be reoriented in a portrait layout with a more suitable platform for church services.