The heritage-listed South Cronulla Uniting Church will close its doors for the last time after the morning service on Sunday, April 3.
Two members of the Uniting Church Georges River Presbytery attended morning service last Sunday and informed the congregation of the closure of the church.
“They listened to and answered questions from an angry yet sad congregation,” a parishioner said.
“But nothing they said changed the situation, just as letters and petitions have been to no avail.
“Presbytery members confirmed that the doors of the church will close after morning service on April 3.
“So a heritage-listed Christian church whose doors have been open for 91 years, and a community hall will no longer be available to the community.
“The congregation says that they are praying that another church will be able to buy the site and continue the Lord’s work originally started by the Congregational Church.’’
The congregation of the Wilshire Avenue church celebrated its 90th anniversary last year. But last November the local church council decided to close the church and sell it and the adjoining manse, which make up a parcel of approximately 1800 square metres.
The sale has to be agreed to by The Uniting Church Georges River Presbytery and the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT.
The church is part of the New Beginnings Uniting Church of Cronulla parish. Others are the Uniting Church on Gosport Street, Cronulla, and the Uniting Church at Bundeena.
All three are ministered by the Reverend Simon Lee.
The land on which the South Cronulla Uniting Church stands was bought in 1902 and the foundation stone laid on April 24, 1924.
The South Cronulla church has been identified by Sutherland Shire Council as a heritage item of local significance and is listed as a local heritage item in the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan 2015.
The congregation has been invited to join with the other New Beginning Uniting Churches in the area.
But a parishioner said it would not be practical for older members of the congregation to travel to another church.
The Uniting Church in Australia Synod of NSW and the ACT has previously said that some of the funds from the sale will potentially be directed into expanding areas of the ministry, including doing more for socially isolated and disadvantaged people in the area while maintaining traditional worship.
The South Cronulla Uniting congregation thanked everyone who signed their petition and will welcome any visitors to the church up until it closes its doors on Sunday, April 3.
