Vicar David Powys is calling on community support to help give St Johns Anglican Church the renovation it needs. 75887 Picture: Meagan Rogers
By Bridget Cook
VICAR David Powys has one wish for when St Johns Anglican Church rings in its 100th birthday next year – that it has received the full restoration it deserves.
But to do so, he needs community support to raise the $250,000 needed to include the Cranbourne churches historic hall in the renovation works which are set to take place.
The church has already secured about $2 million to undertake part of the restoration of the church, which is set to start next month.
Works include a new 300 seat worship centre, two meetings rooms, a kitchen and toilets.
However, the churches financial resources have not permitted the hall to be included in the project so Mr Powys is calling on the community to help make that possible by the end of February.
“It is hoped that a significant portion of this will be covered by a government grant but there will still be a $150,000 shortfall,” he said.
“St Johns is looking to local businesses, individuals and philanthropic trusts to achieve this total by the end of February.”
Mr Powys said initially the church wasn’t sure if it would keep the hall until it found out if it had a council heritage overlay over it.
“The council overlay has opened our eyes to the potential to it all,” he said.
“It’ll cost less than it would to build a new one and we’ll have an old but new and modern facility.
“Cranbourne, which is becoming a newer and newer suburb, has got old buildings but they need to be preserved because, if not, they’ll just be lost.
“Then we won’t be losing our history.”
Mr Powys said the hall could be a great community facility used by a number of community groups.
“People need to use their imagination and see what this hall could become and see how it could be used by community groups in the future,” he said.
“There are quite a few groups that would really like to meet in an historic place that’s affordable.
“We’ll use it ourselves but the primary use will be for the community.
“Right now it looks awful, with disgusting toilets and a drafty kitchen that you don’t really enjoy using, but it doesn’t need to be any of those things if it’s restored.”
To donate visit www.sjac.com.au or contact Mr Powys on 5996 8461.
