In August the Anglican Diocese advised the community the cost of maintaining and insuring the property was too high and the buildings would be sold.

Due to declining numbers of parishioners St John’s has not been used for regular worship for some years.

A date for the de-consecration of the church has been made for October 20.

Concerned residents have called a community meeting to be held at the hall on Saturday, October 13 at 2pm to discuss the issue.

This follows on from a community meeting on September 8, attended by more than 40 people, raising issues about the heritage and community significance of the buildings.

Residents have particular concerns about the future of the cemetery and how it would be maintained once the buildings were disposed of by the diocese.

The church and cemetery are listed together as having local heritage significance  in the Dungog Local Environmental Plan 2014.

Elliot Holland whose family has a long history in the area said the community wanted to hear alternative suggestions for the future of the buildings and cemetery.

“The Anglican Diocese claim that the cost of insurance is their justification for removing the St John's Church,” he said.

“However, this justification is considered misleading and self-serving in that it ignores the fact that the Anglican Diocese would be making monetary profit from the sale of the Community Hall and land.

“Insurance costs should not be considered an adequate justification to remove a heritage item, when the Anglican Diocese proposes to remove the Community Hall (that was constructed for the community benefit) and will have more than sufficient funds from this sale to meet the care and maintenance obligations in relation to the St John's Church.”

The Diocesan Bishop, Dr Peter Stuart, said the decision to close any church “comes with considerable prayer and reflection”.

“In exercising my role, I also seek to be confident that the decision is the best one in the overall interests of the region served by a parish, the parish itself and the diocese,” he said in a statement.

Read the full media statement from the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle here:

The Diocese of Newcastle is currently reviewing its ministry throughout the parishes of the Diocesan area. Parishes are working hard to reflect on their current and future ministries.

This work has been underway in the Parish of Gresford and Paterson for some time. Like all parishes, it has been considering population shifts, changing patterns of church attendance, and ongoing costs.

In 2015, the decision was made to concentrate the ministry of the Parish around the more central churches at Gresford and Paterson.

A number of the very small churches in the parish were closed, including St John’s Lostock. St John’s held its last service of worship in 2015.

The regular worshipping congregation was included in the discussions leading up to this decision. Following a decision to close a building, the Diocesan authorities move progressively to deconsecrate and sell the closed buildings.

St John’s is the third of these sales.

In due course, expressions of interest will be invited. The Parish Council will then oversee to the placement of the fittings of the church elsewhere within the parish and community, mindful of the treasures in its care.

We are currently in discussions about the future management of the cemetery. Under NSW Law, any person assuming responsibility for the cemetery, must honour all obligations that the Diocese currently has, including the right for the public to access the cemetery. The Diocese will not enter into any agreement until it is satisfied about the future arrangements.

Any proposal for the church building must also comply with NSW Law and local planning requirements. These provisions provide some important assurances to the community.

The Diocesan Bishop, Dr Peter Stuart writes, “No decision to close a church building comes without considerable prayer and reflection. In exercising my role, I also seek to be confident that the decision is the best one in the overall interests of the region served by a parish, the parish itself and the diocese. Having considered the various options for the future, along with the submission of the parish, I have formed the view that it is time for the church building to be formally closed for proposals for future use and possible sale of the building to be put to the appropriate Diocesan bodies. I want to affirm again the wisdom of focussing weekly worship and public ministry around the churches at Gresford and Paterson.”

There will be a service of thanksgiving for the witness of St John’s Church and deconsecration at 11am on October 20, 2018.