A media release from Bishop Steven on the recent sale by tender process of St Michael's and All Angels Church property in Clyde

On Friday 29 January I am travelling to Clyde to conduct the secularisation of St Michael's Church at 11 am. This is to enable the church, along with the adjacent hall and land, to be handed over to new owners on 26 March 2021.

This has followed an extensive process for the Dunstan Parish, including considerable community interest in the building with a desire to see it retained in some way. The new owners (formerly from the area) have indicated that they want to keep the church intact and are exploring the process of strengthening its Historic Place Category to ensure it can continue in its present form. They are also willing to explore how the building may be available for wider community use, while eventually building a dwelling sympathetic with the heritage of this area on some of the land for their own use. 

Funds released from the sale of this property will allow the Dunstan Parish to progress plans to strengthen ministry in the Central Otago area.

It is always hard to "let go" of a building like St Michael's, which was pivotal as the mother church for Anglicans in the Central Otago and Upper Clutha area. This has been a sacred space for so many of the years and it is hard to say goodbye, although it is encouraging that the intention is for the church building to continue to have a presence in Clyde.

I look forward with interest to see what happens on this site under new owners in the future, but am also mindful that the church is never - and never has been - buildings, but is always people who are called together in community. We continue to read the scriptures, pray for each other and our world, while living out the life of Jesus Christ, proclaiming "good news" in our communities and transforming lives through acts of love.

May God bless this new part of the journey, to the glory of Jesus Christ.

+ Steven

Addendum: 27 January 2021

Have a look at what the NZ Historic Places Register says about St. Michaels, with the foundation stone being laid by Bishop Selwyn in January 1877, it was consecrated on 7 October 1977 by Bishop Neville.