Devastated by fire in 2004, all that was left standing of the English Victorian-style church was the cavity brick hall with lean-to ablutions and toilets and three flanking walls. The newly built church has enhanced but not replicated the original Church walls. Face brickwork has been stitched in both the hall and the Church, and the leadlight windows replaced. The pitch of the original Church roof remains, however, the hall upgrade has incorporated a flat ceiling.
The extended Church section is clearly separated from the original structure by a wrap-around window – this adds natural light into the main nave of the Church, and acts as a line of demarcation. Glass walls to two of the three sides of the entry lobby allow a full eastern outlook from the Church. From the outside, it provides wonderful reflections of the existing eucalypt tree which is a focus of the entry area.
The award-winning building challenges traditional perceptions of what a Church can be. The Church itself is light-filled and inviting, combining a traditional ecclesiastical look with clean, contemporary interiors.
