New life for the old Craven church presently owned by Yancoal Gloucester District by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 20, 2024 Alexander Sutherland. ANYONE driving through the village of Craven could not fail to notice the old weatherboard church on the corner of the Bucketts Way and Woods Road. The building has seen better days. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au It is currently boarded up and in desperate need of much tender love and care. Alexander Sutherland, who already owns and is continuing to restore the old Anglican church in Stratford, is keen to breathe new life into the Craven church, but he needs some help. The Craven church was opened for worship in November 1916, and was for many years the centre of local religious life. It would no doubt have been the venue for many christenings, weddings, funerals and local social events. “The village of Craven was settled in the early years of the twentieth century,” writes Penny Teerman for MidCoast Stories. “For many years, there was no church in the village but this was to change in 1916 with the construction of the Union Church. “[It] was used for services by several Christian denominations including Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans and Salvationists. “The church eventually fell out of use and in 2005, government approval was given for the sale of the church land and the distribution of funds to support evangelical and missionary work.” The site is now owned by Yancoal, which runs the nearby, but soon to close, Stratford Coal Mine. Mr Sutherland has applied to Yancoal for assistance under its community support program to restore the church so it can be converted into a tourist attraction as a café, gallery and function centre, and a retail outlet for local produce. “My plan is to establish a community owned co-operative,” he said. “I put the idea out on social media and have had lots of interest. “Obviously, we’ll have to come to some arrangement with Yancoal, but I hope they can see that it will be a great community asset. It would certainly be a boost to tourism. “I’ve already had a site inspection with a building consultant, and a representative from Yancoal. “The building is structurally sound with no termite damage.” No decision has yet been made. “Yancoal looks forward to better understanding and considering community proposals regarding the future of Craven church,” said a spokesperson for Yancoal. By John WATTS The old Craven church. Inside the Craven church.
