The parish of Glenhaven has jumped at a “once-in-a-generation” chance to expand its small church site.

The Emmanuel church on Glenhaven Road occupies just 0.2 of a hectare and is already bursting at the seams. in February this year the adjoining two-hectare property came on to the market and Glenhaven’s minister, the Rev John Hooton, and the parish council knew they’d have to act quickly.

“When this property came up our first response was ‘if this happens, it’s going to be a work of God’... and it has been all the way along,” he says. Congregational meetings were held and a five-stage plan was developed, with the help of a consultant, to ensure the property would fit future ministry needs.

“There was incredible support from the longer-term members of the church saying, ‘This is a once-in-a- generation opportunity’,” Mr Hooton says. “The purchase has been a huge stretch financially for the parish. People have given so generously, while the funds the parish raised were matched two for one by another generous donor.”

The balance came from a $700,000 loan.

While the parish had “just run out of space” on its current site, with the purchase of 10 times as much land next door God has just enlarged their borders.

“The property gives us new opportunities to minister to children and youth,” Mr Hooton says. “There are also three retirement villages in the area, including the ARV’s Glenhaven Green where we have a partnership,
so we can also develop additional ministry to retired adults.”

The new property already contains a house and a hall currently used as a dance studio.