St Ann’s Church and cemetery falling apart after being sold by Tasmanian Anglican Church in 2011

ANGLICAN parishioners are fearful a deteriorating Southern Midlands church and cemetery could be a preview of what’s to come if the church’s fire-sale proposal goes ahead.

ANGLICAN parishioners are fearful a deteriorating Southern Midlands church and cemetery could be a preview of what’s to come if the church’s fire-sale plans proceed.

St Ann’s Church and Cemetery at Dysart, north of Bagdad, was sold by the Anglican Diocese in 2011 and earthworks by the new owners in early 2014 without council approval went perilously close to gravesites, angering local residents.

The owners planned to convert the church into a community art space but a heritage overlay made it difficult to get the designs past council in late 2014.

The church and cemetery have remained largely untouched since then, apart from the flowers placed by mourners, and its condition seems to be getting worse.

Christine Burke, of Claremont, who has 11 forebears buried there, said the present state of the graveyard was “disrespectful”.

She said her mother’s grave was one of those almost dug up.

“It was close enough to scare me,” she told the Mercury.

“My family history is there, [the church] had no respect for the dead and they had no right to take that away.”

Ms Burke said the church didn’t stop to think about the consequences and no one in her family was contacted by the Anglican Church before the sale went ahead.

Christine Burke, pictured at her home in Claremont, has 11 relatives buried at St.Ann's Church and cemetery at Dysart. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

“Absolutely,” she said, when asked if the church should consult the deceased’s relatives before deciding to sell cemeteries in December.

Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee said Dysart was “a wonderful example of what could happen if cemeteries were privatised”.

Bishop Richard Condie said the Burials and Cremations Act included penalties for cemetery managers that didn’t fulfil their function and anyone concerned about the Dysart cemetery should contact the relevant authorities.

He said the Tasmanian Heritage Council had spoked favourably of private ownership as a way of ensuring the long-term preservation of heritage buildings, and churches would probably be better looked after in private hands than what they are now.

Initially private earthworks at St Ann's Church and Cemetery at Dysart went very close to gravesites.

“The Anglican Church acknowledges there is significant public concern about the future management of cemeteries, which is why we support the government’s review of the legislation and will co-operate with them,” Bishop Condie said.

Lisa and Paul Rudd, owners of the Dysart site, said they had fantastic things planned for the church but after the difficulties with the council they had decided to keep it as an investment.

Ms Rudd said St Ann’s was in a better condition now than before they bought it.

“It was overgrown with blackberries, wattle trees and bracken,” she said.

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Smashed windows at St Ann's Church and Cemetery at Dysart.

“Some graves could not even be seen — there was one metre of dirt that had built up at the back of the building covering all the air vents and major tree roots had made their way into the foundations.

“We addressed these issues and protected the building from further damage.

“There were no protests when we purchased the property as it was in need of new owners.”

She said people could still be buried at the cemetery, they just needed to contact them, and they were exploring opportunities for the property and would complete further restoration work when the weather improved.

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