That sentence was at the heart of an emotional meeting held on Tuesday night in the soon to be listed for sale St Paul's Church in Carcoar.

Called by the Bathurst Anglican Diocese to update the community on its sale, Bishop Mark Calder's voice audibly shook with emotion as he explained how the diocese had come to the point where selling its churches was its only way out.

Described by Bishop Calder as a "sad and sorry tale of financial mismanagement," the $40 million debt racked up by the diocese goes back to 2007.

The subsequent fire sale of churches, schools and other properties to fund the repayment had left the diocese with little in reserve to meet the estimated $6.5 million in redress payments for historic child sexual assault claims.

"We're ashamed, appalled and disgusted by what has happened, and the cases range from serious to devastating," he said.

"With each case the payouts are between $150,000 and $300,000 and the sale of this church will bring relief to two or three victims."

Under social distancing rules 32 people were allowed into the church to listen to, and ask questions of Bishop Calder.

Now 72, Del Howarth has been cleaning the church since she was 16 years old and her husband Ken's ashes are interred in a wall outside the church.

It's a site that she visits every weekend.

"When I told my daughter about the sale of the church she dropped to her knees and cried," she said during the meeting.

"What's going to happen to his ashes? He's at peace here. He was a Vietnam Veteran and was sprayed with Agent Orange and suffered from that all his life. This is a disgrace."

That sentiment was commonplace as speaker after speaker complained that whilst the church was right to address those abused in the past, they themselves feel that they are now also victims.

"It's not this community's fault that those bad things happened," Mrs Howarth said.

"Why should we all lose this beautiful church which is the second oldest church west of the Blue Mountains, why?"

Bishop Calder said that the church will be listed for sale in early 2021 with an expected price of over $400,000.

The Anglican church in Lucknow recently sold for $430,000.