Reverend describes news as “moment of great sadness”

A 106-year-old Clarence Valley church will permanently close its doors and be sold off as part of a wider ministry restructuring plan.

Church of the Holy Apostles Anglican Church, Copmanhurst. Photo: John Huth

A 106-year-old Clarence Valley church will permanently close its doors and be sold off as part of a wider ministry restructuring plan.

In a letter sent to parishioners earlier this month, Christ Church Cathedral Dean Gregory Jenks shared the sad news that the Church of the Holy Apostles in Copmanhurst would soon be placed on the market.

“It is still a moment of great sadness when we must close a church and bring more than a hundred years of local ministry to a conclusion,” he said in the letter.

“Apart from the significance of the church itself in the Copmanhurst community, it is also the repository of numerous personal and community memorials.”

Due to restrictions on places of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic there have been no services at Holy Apostles since March 2020.

“As a Parish and as a local Anglican community in Copmanhurst, we now need to begin working through the implications of the decision to close the church and to put the property on the market,” Rev Jenks said.

“Please keep each other in your prayers as we engage in this sad task.”

The first foundation stone for the Church of the Holy Apostles was laid by Bishop Druitt on April 22, 1914. A year later, the church was officially opened. In June 1975, Holy Apostles’ Copmanhurst became part of the Cathedral parish.

In the meantime, a small working group will be formed to assist with the transition.

Anyone wishing to be involved are invited to contact the Christ Church Cathedral office on 6642 2844.