‘It’s soul destroying, we’re absolutely gutted’: Parishioners vow to fight church closures

Tasmania’s Southern Midlands municipality is set to lose seven of its nine Anglican churches.

John and Shirley Jones, who has has played the organ at services at St Mary’s Church in Kempton for the past 40 years. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

TASMANIA’S Southern Midlands will lose seven of its nine Anglican churches.

The rural municipality is perhaps the hardest hit by the Diocesan Council’s decision to dispose of 73 properties across the state.

BISHOP ANNOUNCES REVISED LIST OF CHURCHES FOR SALE

The verdict is a major blow for the tight-knit community at St Mary’s in Kempton where regular church services are still held for the 20-strong congregation.

“It’s very disappointing,” former Southern Midlands mayor Tony Bisdee said.

“Kempton have a small, dedicated congregation who go there every week.

“Now they’ll have to travel to Oatlands or Pontville to attend a service.”

The other Southern Midlands properties slated for sale are All Saints Church at Melton Mowbray, St James’ Church at Colebrook, St James’ Church at Jericho, St John the Evangelist Church at Lower Marshes, St Michael’s Church Play Centre at Bagdad and St Oswald’s Church at Tunbridge.

St Mary’s Church in Kempton which is to be sold as part of the Anglican Church’s redress scheme. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

St Matthias’ Church in Woodsdale was one of the 34 properties spared by the Diocesan Council on Saturday, while St Peter’s Church at Oatlands was never on the proposed sale list.

Cr Bisdee said it was “disrespectful” to those buried in Anglican cemeteries across the region, which included many returned soldiers and First Fleet convict Elizabeth Bruce Flexmore buried at Kempton.

John Jones, 77, whose wife Shirley has played the organ during services at Kempton for the past 40 years, said the community would “very much” fight the decision, including considering a legal challenge.

“It’s soul destroying, we’re absolutely gutted,” he said.

“Everything the church was built for – the community interaction and comradeship – will be taken away.

“We need a place like that for solace.

“Not everyone can drive to another church.”

The foundation plaque at St Mary’s Church in Kempton. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Labor Lyons MP Jen Butler said the “brutal decision” by the Diocesan Council to sell seven Southern Midlands churches had left the community reeling.

She said it was particularly disappointing given the community had worked hard towards a compromise.

“The community tried to negotiate with the diocese and through community consultation agreed to the sales and simply asked that Jericho and Kempton be spared,” Ms Butler said.

“Kempton has burial sites dating back to the First Fleet, the hall is a community hub and the church is a heritage-listed building.

“There’s also St James’ churchyard at Jericho where Victoria Cross recipient John Hutton Bisdee is buried.”

David Downie, chairman of Save Our Community Soul, maintained the church had no moral or legal right to sell the churches and said they would do what they could to help communities who wanted to continue the fight.