Reconfiguring churches into homes is a calling
Once they were the thriving hubs of communities, tending to their spiritual, social and even welfare needs. Now they are increasingly sought-after homes.
Once they were the thriving hubs of communities, tending to their spiritual, social and even welfare needs.
Now they are increasingly sought-after homes.
Converting heritage church buildings into residences is a long-held dream of many an architect and two listings in Melbourne and Adelaide show that, for all the hard work, the pay-off can be truly divine.
Melbourne engineer Glenn Morris had never undertaken a large-scale residential development when a historic 1872 bluestone church on Fitzroy’s Napier Street caught his eye in 2012.
Adelaide’s Jonathan and Treena Engel were at dinner with friends 12 years ago when they heard the 1886 Knoxville Congregational Jubilee Church around the corner was up for sale. They made an appointment to see it the next day, and the rest is history.
Both say converting their churches into modern homes has provided more than just a breathtaking roof over their heads: it gave them a calling and a shared sense of community.
Morris, whose spectacular three-bedroom home in the original church building at 1/124 Napier St Fitzroy is now for sale, says many people doubted he would get the 13-residence development off the ground.
“It was more than a financial play for me, although obviously it had to stack up,” Morris says. “It’s the fun; the passion; it’s been a journey.”
Morris concedes it was technically challenging and credits his Inverloch-based builder Dave Martin of Martin Builders and Sydney-based architect James Stockwell, with bringing the beautiful development to life.
It has all been worth it, with the light, space and natural warmth of his home reminding him every day that he made the right decision.
“People say to me, ‘Are you going to get some art?’ and I say ‘I don’t need it, I have a moving art show across my walls every day as the sun moves over the stained glass window’.”
The original timber arches give warmth and character to the residence, a wall of glass opposite lets light stream in and a rooftop terrace is the perfect place to watch city life.
Morris’s home is seeking $5.7m to $6.2m through Nelson Alexander’s Arch Staver.
The Engels in Adelaide’s Glenside tell a similar story. Jonathan concedes the couple “just love old homes” and were attracted to the history and striking design of their former church, which they bought in 2010.
Built in 1886, the church was designed to resemble a crown to honour Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
The property, now a gorgeous four-bedroom home, needed complete rewiring and re-plumbing and Engel laid 13,000 paving bricks to create the stunning manicured gardens. “It seemed like a good idea at the start,” he laughs.
The couple enlisted heritage architect David Brown to guide the restoration and retained many of the original features of the church.
One of the highlights of their time there was inviting the 99-year-old daughter of former pastor Winnifred Kiek (Australia’s first female ordained minister) to visit her mother’s old church.
Engel says church conversions are a great responsibility and he has loved the community engagement that their project has brought. “We are only the custodians of this property, we are so lucky to have had 12 years here.”
The property, 8 Knoxville Lane Glenside, is on the market for $1.8m to $2m through Toop + Toop’s Bronte Manuel.
Would either of them take on another church conversion in future?
The Engels are hoping to take off on a motorhome adventure around Australia.
Morris concedes that whenever he travels, he’s drawn to old churches and he wouldn’t rule out another capturing his eye.