TWO-and-a-half years to the day since historic St Barnabas’ Anglican Church was set on fire, Father James Hodson says an announcement on the site’s future is imminent.
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The church was gutted in the early hours of February 23, 2014.
When emergency services were called to the blaze on Rocket Street, South Bathurst at 1.40am, the church was already engulfed in flames.
The blaze was immediately treated as suspicious.
Less than a month later, police charged the then 34-year-old Patrick Johns of Aroo Street, South Bathurst with a string of offences over the incident.
On December 15, 2015, Johns was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of five years with a non-parole period of three years.
Following the fire, the restoration of the church was put on hold as the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst continued its legal battle for survival.
The Western Advocate reported In September 2015 that any restoration plans were on hold temporarily as the Commonwealth Bank sued the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst for outstanding debts of $40 million dating back to 2007.
On the 18-month anniversary of the blaze, Father Hodson said it has been a long journey for members of the congregation.
“It has been a long, long road, let me tell you,” he said.
Father Hodson said while he was unable to talk specifically about the church’s future, Bishop Ian Palmer will soon make an announcement on the topic.
“When the announcement is made it will be a great relief for all involved,” he said.
When the announcement is made it will be a great relief for all involved.
- Father James Hodson
Immediately following the fire, Father Hodson told the Advocate that “faith was still alive in South Bathurst”.
“I think the longer that I live, the more I believe that there is nothing in our lives, whether good or bad, that can keep us from God,” he said.
Father Hodson said while the church had been destroyed, its heart was still very much alive.
“We have lost a very treasured and sacred space, but it was a building, it was bricks and mortar,” he said.
Members of the congregation have since been attending mass at St Joseph’s Convent in Perthville.
A sacred place
- St Barnabas’ was originally planned and built to minister to the blue collar workers of Milltown.
- The parish was formed in 1884 and a church was built in 1881 to replace an earlier weatherboard structure dating from 1875.
- This older building was relegated to parish hall and replaced with a brick building in 1918.