Exterior of the new St Barnabas church building
While one church in Sydney sees the conclusion of their efforts to rebuild their church, another in Victoria continues their campaign begun this August.
St Barnabas Broadway in Sydney have recently achieved a wonderful milestone in the rebuilding of their church: reaching their rebuild fundraising target of $4 million.
St Barney’s church and facilities were destroyed by fire on 10 May 2006. Shortly after, the church community began a fundraising project that’s lasted three years.
“We realised very early on that building a new church in the inner city, particularly amongst tall commercial buildings with no genuine site access, and with a reasonably large church population, would not be the same as building a church elsewhere in the suburbs,” says Michael Paget, senior minister of St Barneys. “We knew that the nature of our situation and iconic status of St Barneys meant we’d needed a fairly ambitious goal.”
The fundraising program for the building project was formally launched in September 2009, at the 150th anniversary celebrations for the church. This event, attended by past and present clergy and congregation members, was the only official fundraising event organised for the building fund appeal.
“Though the launch was substantial, it was the ongoing regular giving, in large part from the congregation, that made the difference,” says Paget.
The church didn’t initiate any official programs like the ‘buy a brick’ program to reach their fundraising targets. “We tried to be as transparent as possible about the needs, and as forward thinking as possible about the opportunities for a renewed physical platform for ministry,” Paget says. The congregation in turn responded to the needs and opportunities.
While the target $4 million has now been reached, many of those who pledged amounts are yet to meet their full pledge. As the pledges finish coming in over the next week, the total amount raised will exceed the target. “Every dollar given now actually reduces the cost on our operating budget,” says Paget.
Paget is encouraged by the generosity of God’s people, reflected in this fundraising result. “The reality is that the vast bulk of these funds came in through the generosity of God’s people.”
Earlier in the week, Paget encouraged his church members that they need not pledge any further money: “In this mighty project, we are – by God’s grace alone – DONE.”
St Peter’s Memorial Church in Kinglake was one of the buildings razed by the bushfires in February 2009, and the congregation has launched an appeal to fundraise $120,000 to rebuild their facilities.
While insurance has covered part of the cost from the loss of the old church, built in 1922, and current donors have also already contributed to the build, the $850,000 project still requires the further $120 000 to be raised.
Church building projects can appear daunting at the starting line and Stephen Holmes, rector of St Peter’s, says he thought the fundraising would have been further along by this stage. “We are still a considerable way from our target,” he says. “We do need more, since we’ve got nowhere near the target. But it’s early days and we’re still praying.”
“We’re very grateful for the individual parishes, some in New South Wales and in Queensland, who have been in touch to support us. When they write it reminds me of the parable of the woman who gave all that she had. I feel very humbled by the gifts they give. We feel a kinship with those who give, and feel like a part of the body of Christ when we receive from the small country towns who are struggling themselves.”
St Peter’s, a semi-rural Victorian parish is in a considerably different position from urban churches building new premises. Their congregation is not large, and as Holmes points out, lost many of its congregation after the 2009 bushfires – some who’ve moved away, and some who perished during the fire.
St Peter’s Memorial Church in Kinglake lays new foundations
While fully supportive of the building of new premises, the congregation cannot fund the build themselves. “The people have no money,” says Holmes. “The congregation in this case – what’s left of them – are struggling to re-build their own houses burnt out by fires.”
After the fires, Holmes and another in the church clearly felt that God was saying that they weren’t to abandon this place. “It would have been easy to,” he admits. “But we believe that we are a light on the hill to bring hope to a community that’s in pain. There may only be 20 or even 15 people in our congregation. But we felt that it was vital to remain. We want to place back there a lighthouse and support our local community.”
The church has stepped out in faith and started the building process; the foundations are almost complete. The foundation footings and walls will be complete by Christmas.
“We are building this church for today, for tomorrow for a 100 years’ time,” says Holmes. “Or until the Lord Jesus returns.”
Header image: flickr_ mr lynch
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