“Hands off our church!” Booligal’s Anglican congregation vows to fight for their historic church building.
Booligal congregation member Lyn Robinson is part of the small yet vocal opposition to the Anglican Church’s decision to sell off a historic church. Images: The Riverine Grazier / Krista Schade.
By Tertia Butcher
The community of Booligal provided the money to build St Alban’s Anglican Church in 1899 with the help of a bequest, and have maintained it for more than a century. Now the Diocese wants to sell it and there are fears the meticulously kept building could become a hunting lodge for pig shooters.
Heritage-listed St Alban’s Church at Booligal is being sold by the Diocese and locals are united in their efforts to keep it out of the hands of visiting pig shooters.
Parishioners were shocked when asked for a key to the building by a local real estate agent who had been requested by the Bishop for a valuation of the church.
“This was early in December and was the first time we heard, or rather feared, that the church might be sold,” said parishioner Allison Crossley, who cleans the church.
“The diocese did not contact us until January 23 when I received a call from Bishop Kirk.
“St Alban’s Anglican Church was established in 1899 and has always been maintained by the parishioners for 126 years.
“Yet according to the Domain on which the church is listed for sale, it was ‘last sold in 1998’.”
In a letter to Bishop Kirk, fellow parishioner Jenny Sheaffe echoed the profound disappointment the community feels at the decision by the Anglican Diocese to sell their church.
“I feel sure you are aware of the history of the Booligal/Oxley Anglican Churches,” Mrs Sheaffe wrote.
“It is the second oldest building in the village of Booligal, dedicated by Bishop Anderson on February 22, 1899.
“One hundred pounds was donated by the Marriott bequest on the condition the same amount be raised by the community.
“The design was to be the same as the church that was to be built in Oxley and the architect was a Mr Laver. In the1990s, St Alban’s Anglican Church Booligal was given local heritage listing by Hay Shire Council.
“In my lifetime of living in the Booligal district (50 plus years) I have witnessed funerals, weddings and baptisms all performed at St Alban’s Anglican Church Booligal.
“The church is more than just a building to the community,” Mrs Sheaffe told Bishop Kirk in her letter.
“It is our history and as such we have maintained it to the best of our ability. In 1986 we, the community, paid for the power to be connected to St Alban’s and installed ceiling fans.
“In 2000, with the help of a heritage grant, repairs were done to St Alban’s and in January and February 2002 the church was painted in heritage colours.
“The total cost was $4835, less the heritage grant of $1815. The community raised a further $3020 so this project could be completed.
“Since then, we have replaced windowpanes and repaired windowsills, and general maintenance - all at our own expense.
“However, we did have some roof repairs done under an insurance claim, when a strong wind came through and blew a few sheets of tin off the roof.
Emily Turner’s children Angus and Isla were both christened in the Booligal Church.
“The grounds of St Alban’s church are maintained regularly by a local resident, Mrs Lynn Robinson and the church is cleaned by Mrs Alison Crossley.
“We do understand that there are financial and logistical reasons that have led to this decision to sell St Alban’s Anglican Church Booligal.
“However, we implore you to reconsider the Church’s decision.
“If sold, it will be to a pig shooter from away and become a hunting lodge, which is the last thing the community of Booligal needs or desires.
“There surely is an alternative solution that could be explored such as gifting St Alban’s Anglican Church and the block of land it stands on to the community and selling the second block of land.
“It is unrealistic for the community to find the amount of money required to purchase the church, so we are hoping the Diocese will show compassion towards the community.
“We are willing to engage in open and constructive dialogue to find a path forward.
“Let us all try and work together to ensure a good outcome for all concerned.”
Mrs Sheaffe said the community had never asked the Diocese for money, all they ever requested was four services per year.
“The Diocese has not spent a bob on maintenance. We have done it ourselves.
“It’s not our fault the church is not being used when they don’t send out a Minister.”
Bishop Kirk told Mrs Sheaffe and Mrs Crossley in a phone call last Thursday that it became financially necessary to sell off churches due to the cost of insurance and also payments of large sums of money for compensation.
“The Bishop said in 2021 an extensive list was drawn up to sell churches not being used often. Booligal was on that list.
“The Bishop also told us that Fr Neal Somerby’s stipend was funded externally, but then he transferred to Western Australia.
“Fr Sheehan from Deniliquin was asked to visit Hay and Booligal, but he was very old and has since retired.
“There was no one left to service Booligal. We understand all of that.
“But why didn’t the church come to us beforehand so we could work out a solution together?
“We do not want to see it being sold to a pig shooter who will turn the church into a hunting lodge.”
Helen Rogers’ great-grandfather, Bishop Ernest Anderson dedicated the church in 1899 and said St Alban’s was more than a place of worship.
“It brought the community together,” she said.
“It appears the Bishop and Parish Council have no regard to the parishioners in our community. The parishioners mean nothing to them and the churches which have been built and maintained by the communities mean nothing but money.
“They sold St Paul’s in Hay, St Stephen’s in Ivanhoe and St James in Wilcannia.
“Where are we supposed to worship? We feel abandoned. They are selling the community’s asset. The community has maintained it. Not to meet or discuss with the community beforehand is incomprehensible.
“Money is the root of all evil.”
Bishop Kirk responds
In response to requests for comment by The Riverine Grazier, the head of the Anglican Church in the Riverina provided the following media statement.
“The Anglican Diocese of Riverina, along with many other regional dioceses, are currently experiencing a decline in attendance as well as difficulties in maintaining church buildings and meeting the financial outlay and insurance expenses that are required.
“Accordingly, it is prudent of dioceses to reassess the viability of church buildings and services going forward.
“It should be noted that decisions of this nature are not made lightly, with much consideration given to many competing priorities.
“We are in communication with the community at Booligal regarding the proposed sale of the church and appreciate their concerns and feedback, and I cannot make any further comments at this point in time.
“Grace and peace,
The Right Reverend Donald Kirk, Bishop of Riverina.”
Village votes to buy church
There was unanimous support to buy the church when the community gathered for a public meeting on Monday evening.
An offer has been submitted through the agent acting for the Diocese.
District resident, Ian McLean is a former member of the Diocesan Council and has offered to speak to the Bishop in person this week.
“If they close down Booligal, Broken Hill (510kms away) is our closest Church,” he said.
“Otherwise, we will have to attend the cathedral in Griffith.
They’ve already sold the churches at Hay, Ivanhoe and Wilcannia.”
Jim Crossley has had a lifelong association with the Booligal church and said parishioners already paid for half the church, and are now expected to pay more than half again.
“Without what the community has done, they would have nothing to sell,” Greg Rogers added.
Parishioners were further disheartened when told Bishop Kirk had never been to Booligal, despite living only 161km away in Griffith.
“He has no idea what the community of Booligal is like,” said Jenny Sheaffe who has constantly been in touch with the Bishop over the past week.
