A new church plant was launched in Haberfield on Easter Sunday after almost a decade without Anglican ministry.
The creation of Christ Church Inner West Anglican Community following the merger of the parish of St John’s, Ashfield with the parish of St Alban’s, Five Dock and St Oswald’s, Haberfield on January 1, 2008 has allowed for a renewed push at St Oswald's, Haberfield.
St Oswald's has been absent of any Anglican congregation since late 1998 with only an independent Korean congregation renting out the building for a church service in the interim.
However, following the Rev Hugh Isaacs' suggestion to the Rev Andrew Katay to combine their respective parishes of Five Dock and Ashfield, a core team from the new parish has began a 5pm service at St Oswald's which aims to reach the 7000 locals who don't currently attend a church.
Mr Katay, who will pastor the new congregation along with women's pastoral minister Lisa Hales, says the St Oswald's building will serve as a good base for ministry to the changing Haberfield area.
"The demographic is changing and becoming more "yuppified'. There are many dual income, young couples having their first children. There is a bit of a baby boom," he says.
"We think there's a need for ministry to be done to these young families."
Mr Katay says there are currently "a good Uniting and Baptist church' in the area but he hopes St Oswald's can be an effective Anglican ministry.
"We are a dead-centre, Bible-based, evangelical church with an evangelistic focus and we think that can work in the area," Mr Katay says.
There were 54 people present at the launch service including the core team of 13, which includes Mr Katay, some student ministers and their wives, and a handful of Christians looking to be part of a new church.
He believes around two-thirds of those present were newcomers who he hopes will become part of the new congregation.
"We are hoping some of these people be the growing core of a larger congregation that will take root in Haberfield. That would be a great outcome," he says.
A planting strategy
St Oswald's, Haberfield's new 5pm congregation is the first of six new congregations that Mr Katay hopes Christ Church Inner West Anglican Community will plant over the next six years.
"The 5pm service at Haberfield was one of the key strategic slots we wanted to fill with a congregation," Mr Katay says.
"The next service we want to plant is an evening service at Five Dock and then a morning service at Haberfield. As we grow we want to become more specialised and targeted with who our services reach."
Mr Katay says the amalgamation has been very effective for better reaching the Inner West community.
"It's been the best way forward for helping us church plant across old parish boundaries," Mr Katay says.
"The amalgamation has removed the potential awkwardness that might have developed around church planting in Haberfield."