A new spire for Goulburn’s Uniting Church is within grasp, more than three years on from major storm damage.
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Last week a company used a large crane to lower a temporary steel roof on to the 1871 church on the corner of Goldsmith and Bourke Streets.
Church Council secretary Margaret Hall said this would be removed when a new spire was completed.
The original spire, with its galvanised iron shingles, was damaged in a major storm in December, 2014.
“The timbers on the spire had dried out and in the storm they became twisted and unstable,” Mrs Hall said.
The church perimeter was soon cordoned off and following assessments, authorities set about having the old spire demolished and arranging its replacement. Administrative and development delays have held up progress.
But the end is in sight. Mrs Hall said a new spire with a steel framework and galvanised iron shingles was being constructed offsite and would replicate what was there. A Sydney firm, specialising in spire construction, is completing the work.
“We don’t have a timeframe for that but it will be in the near future,” she said.
“...It’s been a long process but thankfully the insurance will cover it.”
The project is estimated to cost over $1 million.
Church Minister, The Reverend Julie Lawton-Gallard, said parishioners had been attending services at the Saint Patrick’s cemetery chapel on Middle Arm Road since the church’s closure.
“It’s been a fabulous interim space and we’re very grateful to RJ Sidney Craig for allowing us to use it,” she said.
“It’s been a long drawn out process and at one stage we were worried we’d never get back (into Golsmith Street).
“Now we can’t wait. It’s a matter of wanting to be back in our own building, like you want to be back in your home.”
She said a large celebration service would be held when all the work was completed, inviting parishioners and those who contributed to the project.