St Pauls Anglican Church, Bankstown: Controversial plan to replace church with high rise building amended for taller tower

Developers have lodged amended plans to demolish and replace a struggling southwest Sydney church with a high-rise building, proposing to take the 18-storey building to 23 levels.

Controversial plans to demolish a southwest Sydney church and replace it with a high-rise building have been labelled “ungodly” by a parishioner after developers lodged an amendment to make the building taller.

In January, the Sydney Anglican Property lodged amended plans to replace the St Pauls Anglican Church on Chapel Rd, Bankstown with a 23-storey mix-use building.

The amended plans come almost three years after plans were first lodged to develop an 18-storey building.

St Paul's Anglican Church, Bankstown.

However parishioners have been at loggerheads with the church for almost a decade, warning the proposed redevelopment would “destroy” the church’s “local significance”.

Bing Wu, church historian and spokesperson for the Save St Paul’s Bankstown group said the amended plans were disappointing.

“We are really saddened about this. History is not being respected,” Ms Wu said.

Established in 1912 and designed by ecclesiastical architect Norman McPherson, the church is among some of the oldest buildings in the Bankstown area and currently houses several memorial artefacts.

“It’s disgraceful. It’s ungodly. It’s ungodly not to consider St Paul’s (history) and just looking at its monetary value,” Ms Wu said.

“This is a beautiful church with a rich history. Some of it’s members have had their entire family baptised here. It’s filled with donations made by our community.

“And once history is gone, it’s gone forever.”

One of the plagues inside St Paul’s dedicated to priest Thomas Lawrence where his ashes lie beneath the altar.

According to Wu, since plans were first lodged in 2022, at least four independent reviews had recommended the church be heritage listed.

However the state government has declined calls for the heritage listing.

In November, Canterbury Bankstown Council approved land rezoning under the city’s Transport Oriented Development project, allowing for high-rise development to achieve affordable housing targets.

Under the newly proposed plans, the 23-storey high-rise will include upgraded ministry facilities, childcare, retail and commercial facilities.

Levels 2 to 22 of the building are expected to deliver about 186 “100 per cent” affordable social housing units – with the exception of one four-bedroom dwelling to be allocated to the church rector.

St Paul's Anglican Church, Bankstown.

According to planning documents, the building will also include a new multipurpose community facility managed by St Paul’s Anglican Church, including two multipurpose halls with a 300 and 190 seat capacity respectively.

Reverend Peter Ko, Minister of St Paul’s Anglican Church Bankstown, said the redevelopment, spearheaded by the church, would allow them to continue servicing the community.

“The decision to redevelop has been a difficult one for the congregation, which cares deeply for those who want to preserve the church. Their perspective has been carefully heard,” Rev Ko said.

“The State Government has carefully considered the site’s heritage significance and decided against listing it. Nonetheless, the parish would like to preserve and repurpose items of historical significance from the existing church wherever possible in a modern, fit-for-purpose church facility.

“Importantly, this redevelopment will also ensure the viability of St Paul’s on this site, allowing us to continue serving the Bankstown community as we have done for well over 100 years.”