Jenan Taylor
6 December 2024
The leader of a Bellarine area church that was recently gutted by fire says the incident is an opportunity from God to show love and grace to those allegedly responsible for the blaze.
Police charged four people with arson and burglary after flames swept through St Paul’s Anglican church in St Leonards in late November.
The church building and its adjoining hall were significantly damaged and will be demolished.
Vicar the Reverend David Willsher said members were trying to come to terms with the loss, and a few were deeply angry with those allegedly responsible for the fire.
He encouraged anyone who was angry about the incident to view it as an opportunity to show grace and concern rather than judgement to other people.
“There are people that have been charged over this, but we’re the ones with the solutions to the problems [they might be facing],” Mr Willsher said.
“We’re actually the only people who have got the good news that they need. And so really, it’s a message of hope that we can share with other people.”
He said other churches in the parish, and a Catholic church, were quick to provide help and hospitality to St Paul’s congregation. People from the broader community were also advocating for them to be able to use a local hall.
Mr Willsher said this support was proof of God’s faithfulness to St Paul’s, and a reminder that despite the loss Jesus was still walking with them.
As recipients of this faith, grace and love, it was the congregation’s great commission now to step up and show that to others.
Read more: Regional churches turn focus to aid, recovery for fire-affected towns
He said St Paul’s was due to turn 110 years old early next year, and was the smallest of the three churches in the Bellarine Anglican Parish.
It had been through some struggles with attendance, but was on the path to growth, having moved it services from fortnightly to weekly recently.
St Paul’s monthly Hymns of Faith program attracted people from the wider community as well as its own congregation.
He said ministry programs including the Bible study group were now being held at various members homes for the time being.
Mr Willsher said St Paul’s still planned to do a Nine Lessons and Carols service, something that would be new for the small coastal community.
“We are still trying to decide how we’re going to do that and where we’re going to do that,” he said. “One of the thoughts is, if the site is cleared in time, that we may well have ‘Carols in the Ashes’, yet!”
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