by Rachel Chase

A major leap was taken by St Stephen’s, Kellyville this month with the long-awaited opening of a new church building in one of Sydney’s fastest growing suburbs.

The opening, on August 3, was attended by Archbishop Peter Jensen and Bishop Ivan Lee and gave local people a chance to wander around the new 350-seat auditorium and meeting rooms.

The plan is for the facilities to be used as much by the people of Kellyville as by the church.

“The previous St Stephen’s facilities were inadequate for the ministry needs of the 21st century,” said the Rev Ross Hathway, rector of St Stephen’s. “The congregation, who are currently worshipping at Rouse Hill, want to reach out with the good news of Christ to Kellyville.”

The move comes after a ten-year struggle to resolve issues surrounding the escalation in land prices and uncertainty over the best relocation site for the church.
“This project is a model for the future,” said Diocesan Secretary, Mark Payne. “It is an indication that Sydney Diocese is serious about ensuring we have effective ministry centres in the north-west sector.”

Bishop Ivan Lee sees the opening of the new building – in Sydney’s fastest growing area – as part of a church planting movement in the north-west corner of his region.

“Though it is not a new congregation, we see it as a church plant because it is a new building, a new site and the area has completely changed from being quite rural to accommodating an explosive growth of new houses,” he said.

Archdeacon Ken Allen estimates that by 2006 there will be 36,500 people residing in Sydney’s north-west. “The Western Region Council and the Diocese have made it a top priority to fund some church planters and youth ministers in this area in the next three to five years,” he said.

Ken Sangster, a member of the parish council at St Stephen’s for 20 years, is an enthusiastic supporter of the relocation. “We knew that the north-west was going to expand dramatically,” he said. “The new church building will provide a number of opportunities to minister to families and individuals, and the challenge for us is to take these new facilities and use them to expand God’s work in Kellyville.”

Since the new church building was erected, there has been significant community interest. “The congregation will now be able to focus solely on reaching out to the community, rather than being concerned about property issues,” Mark Payne said.

Rachel Chase is a member of St Stephen’s, Kellyville.