Friends of the Buckland Church reach agreement with Anglican Church to buy 175-year-old building

A local community has banded together to buy their local church, which has served the community for 175 years – now they just need the money to pay for it. HOW YOU CAN HELP >>

ONE of Tasmania’s oldest and most significant churches has been bought by the local community who are now flat out fundraising $100,000 to pay for it.

The Anglican Church has reached an in principle agreement to sell St John the Baptist church at Buckland on the East Coast.

A community group, Friends of the Buckland Church, chaired by former Labor Party leader Bryan Green, is excited to be taking over the church, which has served the community for 175 years.

Mr Green said FOBC had signed an agreement ahead of a formal contract with the church to buy the building early next year.

“The group’s sole motivation is to protect and care for the building, which includes the careful management of the cemetery and grounds,” he said.

“We want to ensure the church building continues to play an important role in community activities together with showcasing the building as a significant part of Tasmanian built heritage to passers-by as part of the Great Eastern Drive.”

Friends of the Buckland Church members outside the building they will buy from the Anglican Church. Picture: Supplied

Mr Green said the church’s foundation stone was laid in 1846 and was designed and built based on the purest age of Gothic architecture, the 14th century.

“The building is renowned within heritage circles as a perfect example of Gothic design and is listed accordingly,” he said.

“Many Tasmanians will know the building from the outside as it stands proud when you approach Buckland from Hobart but it’s the eastern stained glass window that makes the building even more famous given the mystery surrounding its age and maker.

“The triple light window depicting the life of St John and the crucifixion of Jesus is claimed to have once adorned Battle Abby, which dates from 1045, removed during the Cromwell era to protect it from destruction.

“The legend goes that it was hidden for many years until it was transported to Tasmania to be fitted to the eastern end of the Buckland Church.”

One of the stained-glass windows at Buckland Church. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

One of the stained-glass windows at Buckland Church. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Mr Green said the community was “proud” to take over the church and had embarked on a fundraising drive to raise $100,000 to complement pledges from locals.

“We believe the building will be self-sustaining on an ongoing basis but we need support to set up a strong future and help complete some repair work required to fix the floor in the building,” he said.

“People passing will soon see a sign at the church with information on how to become a friend of the Buckland Church and how to donate.

“We want people to be part of history by helping the Buckland community protect the iconic church and insure it stands proud for another 175 years.”

The church said it was “finalising a number of elements of the sale”, and was unable to comment on the details.

A spokesman said under the Burial and Cremation Act 2019, any prospective purchaser of a cemetery must apply for approval and must allow the public, including those with loved ones buried in the cemetery, to have access to visit.