Staveley Presbyterian Church is being decommissioned and sold to buyers within the community.
Members of the Staveley Hall Society are raising funds to buy it.
Along with the Staveley Store right next door, the church building is at the heart of the community.
After opening in as a Methodist church in 1903 and two years later was sold to the Presbyterians. To this day it has been a place of worship, and sacred venue for the milestone occasions of christenings, weddings and funerals.
Hall society members are aiming to raise $80,000 to by the land, building and chattels.
Individuals and families with links to the church and district have already donated more than half, and they hope others will come on board.
Member Alan Totty said the church was more than just a building, it was a tribute to the past.
‘‘It’s a beacon of our rich heritage and a testament to the craftsmanship of bygone eras,’’ Totty said.
‘‘This church is not merely a timber structure, it is an irreplaceable repository of our collective memories, traditions, and identity.’’
Totty said he often saw tourists stopping at the nearby store and wandering along the road and into the church to look around.
‘‘In the past the church has been looked after by the Staveley community and we can’t see any reason why this shouldn’t continue,’’ Totty said.
Fellow member Rob Withers said as well as being available for religious services, weddings and funerals, it could also be the venue for events and activities such as pop-up art shows and concerts,
‘‘We want to see the church bought by the community so it has a future. We owe it to the past generations who built and maintained the church to keep it and preserve it for generations to come,’’ Withers said.
The hall society already own the Staveley hall, Staveley Ice Rink and former Springburn School which now houses the Staveley Museum.
The building will require some future structural stabilisation which will be the responsibility of the society and community members.
At present the church comes under the Presbyterian church’s Three Peaks Mission. Mission Development unit convener Abi Trevathan said the mission was happy the hall society wanted the building, so it could continue to be available to the wider community.
– If you wish to help the Staveley Hall Society buy the church, donations can be made via internet banking – Staveley Hall Society, account number 02-0836-0027887-00. Include your name and use the reference church; email gj.[email protected] for a receipt or more information.
