ONE of the Scenic Rim’s oldest remaining churches will be handed back to locals in a major win for the tiny Barney View community.
Long known as the Barney View Uniting Church, the small blue building that sits on a hill overlooking its namesake mountain will be known as the Barney View Community Church from November 6, the day of the official handover ceremony.
Since it was built by locals in 1908 with timber sourced from nearby trees, the church has forged an indelible link to the community and the generations of people who have sat along its wooden pews.
It was thus no surprise that when the Uniting Church indicated its intention to close and potentially relocate the church last year, the community rallied behind the century-old building.
The Uniting Church believed the Barney View congregation – which consists of between 5 – 20 people who meet every Sunday at 1pm – was too small to justify ongoing support.
It just makes sense to open it up to the people, and now we can keep our history alive hopefully for years to come.
- Lesley Klan
Unperturbed, a group of dedicated locals approached the Uniting Church with an offer to lease and eventually purchase the church and the surrounding grounds, valued at about $130,000.
After months of negotiations, the Uniting Church agreed to a 12-month lease and the church is now assured of celebrating its 109th birthday next year.
Barney View resident Lesley Klan, the church’s chief historian and perhaps its most ardent and passionate supporter, said news of the lease was a wonderful moment for the community.
“We don’t care if you’re Christian, Muslim, Catholic or any other denomination, churches should be about a community of people and if people come here looking to find something, they are welcome here,” she said.
“It just makes sense to open it up to the people, and now we can keep our history alive hopefully for years to come.”
Ms Klan said she was keen to see the church become a community hub once again utilised by community groups, weddings, counselling services and even a playgroup destination for local children.
The church will celebrate the handover from 1pm on November 6 with a service followed by afternoon tea. For more information, contact Betty on 0466 189 319.
