As office and ministry staff from St Barnabas' struggle to relocate premises, the Anglican Church Property Trust of the Diocese of Sydney will meet today to discuss the future of the burnt remains of their Broadway home.
The Property Trust will discuss whether the St Barnabas church building that was destroyed in a fire last week should be built from scratch or if it should be rebuilt to incorporate the remains of the previous site.
Property Trust member Richard Neal says there will need to be considerable discussion with the parish before the way forward is clear.
"It will take a while for the parish to let this all sink in and obtain advice about what is feasible and sensible," he says.
"They need to consider what their ministry requirements are and how they are best reflected in a new building."
Earlier this week, the Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth says he hoped the construction of the new building could acknowledge the history of the old.
"While I wouldn't want to put the old pews in the new building as seating, it would be good to use the wood in some way in the new building," he says.
In the meantime, office staff and several ministry staff have relocated into an office in St Andrew's House.
St Barnabas, Broadway's property and finance administrator, Stanley Alley says it has been difficult relocating under the current circumstances but says St Andrew's House staff have been extremely helpful in the process.
"I have had to try and recover account details, work out who we have written cheques to and deal with all of our bank statements that have been lost," he says.
"SDS (Sydney Diocesan Secretariat) has provided office space and access to photocopying facilities at such short notice. They've been really helpful at this difficult time."
Sarah Howard who assists in the office one and a half days a week says the SDS staff have helped St Barnabas' staff feel welcome and operate as normal.
"We are starting from scratch and working out what we need but the people here have showed me where everything is and been keen to offer help," she says.
"It has been a challenge but I am sure we will be able to adjust. It's a matter of getting done what needs to be done."
The office of the University of Technology, Sydney's Christian group, Credo was also located on the Broadway property and lost in the fire.
Mr Alley estimates over six million dollars in building assets has been lost along with another $50,000 in office and sound equipment.
Mr Alley also laments the loss of the church organ.
"I arrived to work just days before the fire and was chatting with the organ tuner who was telling me about the history of that particular organ and saying how it was one of a kind in Australia."
"It was 127 years old and in its original condition, so it's sad to see it go."
Chief Inspector Tony Byrnes from the City Central Police station says they are still waiting on forensic material to be analysed and expects it will be another week before any details about the cause of the fire will be known.
