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THE devastating fire that claimed St Barnabas’ Church on Sunday morning has closed a chapter in the lives of four generations of one Bathurst family.
St Barnabas’ had been the scene for family weddings, christenings and funerals for the Campbells.
Long-time St Barnabas’ parishioner Max Campbell yesterday said he found it hard to go down and see the remains of the church.
“I was having breakfast when I got the phone call,” he said.
“When I went out and came across what had happened out there, it was just devastating.”
The 85-year-old said it was difficult to fully comprehend the tragedy until he saw it for himself on Sunday morning.
“It was hard to visualise it was all gone, you had to really see if for yourself,” he said.
Mr Campbell, who has been attending St Barnabas’ since around 1945, said many of the most significant moments in his life has taken part at the church.
Mr Campbell married his late wife Elaine at St Barnabas’ and went on to watch his children and grandchildren baptised and married at the church.
He has even seen a number of his great-grandchildren baptised there.
“I have to say I have had the happiest and saddest times of my life there,” he said.
“I got married there and then walked my own daughter down the aisle when she got married there, which are some terrific memories.
“I’ve had my grandchildren and great grandchildren christened there, I have had many exciting times and fond memories.
“But I’ve also had a lot of funerals there and had to say goodbye to a lot of loved ones there.”
Mr Campbell added that in his younger years he was a member of the church committee and had also helped paint the inside of the church and maintained the lawns.
Mr Campbell said the congregation was a very tight new community who had provided wonderful support over the years.
“It’s nice to go down there and have a chat to other people, “ he said,
“I think next Sunday will be the hardest part. We don’t really know what is going to happen so I think it will be quite solemn.”
Mr Campbell’s granddaughter Hollie, who was married in St Barnabas’ in 2010, said her whole family was horrified by what had happened.
“We are quite devastated. We have some very special memories there,” she said.
“To me it just doesn’t make sense, if it was arson. Whatever goes through that person’s mind must be inhumane as far as I’m concerned.”
