More than 30 parishes have benefited from the State Government's Community Building grant program, with nearly $900,000 given to churches around the Sydney Diocese.

Topping the list are three projects with strong community service credentials.

Glenquarie Anglican Church received $88,000 to expand facilities for "Break the Cycle', a project supported by the Archbishop of Sydney's Appeals Unit.

The program provides a range of community services, including a no-interest loan scheme for whitegoods, a men's shed, a community garden and a café providing free meals for residents of the Macquarie Fields public housing area.

"Our local State member Andrew McDonald approached us… and encouraged us to put in an application," said senior minister, the Rev Stephen Swanepoel. "The aim of the program is not only to break the cycle of poverty" but take the church back to being the centre of the community."

Reflecting their holistic approach, the actual building work funded by this grant will be completed by a team of disadvantaged youth. Mr Swanepoel's hope is that the young people will finish the project with a pre-apprenticeship certificate and is busily finalising negotiations with TAFE.

On the south coast, St Martin's, Ulladulla received $75,000 in its joint application with Anglicare to build "desperately needed" office space for counselling, mediation and not-for-profit grants programs.

The money will not only see Anglicare expand its services to the district but also assist in renovating the entrance to St Martin's to create a more welcoming space.

At Merrylands Anglican Church what originally started as an upgrade to the old kitchen "has become five times the size" thanks to the $60,000 grant, explained senior minister, the Rev Nathan Killick.

After considering renovating the present kitchen in the hall, the parish council realised outreach could be significantly boosted if they could rebuild a new kitchen in a more central location on their site.

The new commercial-style kitchen will cost an estimated $90,000 and features a servery opening onto a shaded courtyard. Parishioners have already raised $30,000 for the project.

The new kitchen will be used for English as a Second Language (ESL) cooking lessons. The church is also exploring the possibility of opening a Breakfast Club with a local school.

Given the short notice, the Diocese's head of Parish Property, Greg Ellem, is happy so many churches seized upon a Property Trust circular and quickly mobilised grant applications.