A kind-hearted parishioner has bequeathed $400,000 to continue their support of Bathurst Presbyterian Church.
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Reverend Tim Abbey would not reveal the name of the late parishioner, but said the support will help ensure the church’s longevity into the future.
“It’s very rare you’d get this amount, this person didn’t have much family,” he said.
“We see it as a windfall, maybe God gave it to us to help set us up for the next 100 years.”
Built in 1872 on the corner of George and Howick streets, Bathurst Presbyterian Church (formerly St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church), could do with some upgrades to better service its parishioners, according to Reverend Abbey.
“We’re in the process of making modifications to bring our building into the 21st century, as well as keeping our links with the past,” he said. “The whole building’s up for assessment. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
A local architect has been appointed and among the ‘wish list’ is to link the church to the hall, add a kitchen within the church building, renovate existing toilets and add new ones, improve access for those with a disability and increase security.
Reverend Abbey said the community’s expectation of their church is very different today than when it was built 142 years ago.
“Traditionally people would come and sit and listen and then go next door [to the hall],” he said. “The way we do church now is a lot different to the way they did it 150 years ago,” he said. “We just want to have more opportunity for people to relate.”
Reverend Abbey said any changes will be “sympathetic” to the building’s heritage, but changes do need to be made.
“If you don’t push the boundaries that’s why churches have stagnated,” he said.
“We have a vibrant congregation but we don’t want to rest on our laurels.
“We want to try and engage with more people so we need to try and speak their language.
“It’s about making it easy for people to access what the church has to offer.”
Reverend Abbey said while heritage is important, he compared the church to someone’s living room and said it has to be “living”.
“The building has got to be living, you don’t want to be stuck in the past,” he said.
“Everything is up for grabs with us setting it up for the next 100 years.”
Reverend Abbey said the church would not have been able to consider such renovations without the funds being bequeathed.
“We’re just grateful we have been given the opportunity,” he said.
