The closure of Tantawangalo’s Anglican church has been confirmed.
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The announcement was made at services across the Sapphire Coast Anglican Parish that St John’s Church will be closing.
The proposed closure has been a sore point for many in the community since it was first mooted earlier this year.
The final decision on the future of St John’s was made by Bishop Stuart Robinson and his Bishop-in-Council in its capacity as the standing committee of the synod.
“The difficult decision to close the church was reached following an extensive community consultation process,” Reverend Lou Oakes said this week.
“The last service will be held at St John’s on Sunday, October 1, at 5pm. Everyone is invited to join us as we celebrate Holy Communion followed by prayers of thanksgiving for the life of St John’s Church and prayers of encouragement for the Tantawangalo congregation as they join St Peter’s Church at Candelo.”
Funds raised through the closure of the historic church and sale of the property are proposed to be invested in the Candelo church and expanding its services to the wider community.
In putting forward the proposal, the parish said concentrating efforts on services and outreach from Candelo could be a way to grow the church community as a whole.
The Tantawangalo cemetery is not church property and therefore not part of any proposed sale. Access to the cemetery will be retained via an existing council road reserve and responsibility for the grounds put back in council hands.
Eileen Targett is asking for families with memorials and articles in the church to contact her if they haven’t already done so to make arrangements for their relocation. Call Eileen on 6493 2290.