‘Church lifestyle living’ gains popularity in the Goulburn Valley

By Gianni Francis

Apr 20, 2022

Church house: Julie and Tony Mercer have lived in the old Kialla Methodist Church for 23 years. Photo by Megan Fisher

It’s a controversial and emotional decision to make, relinquishing ownership of a church that was built by the hands of the community.

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When the congregation shrinks and the upkeep of the church becomes too much for the few remaining parishioners, the church leadership is forced to make the final decision.

A church hitting the property market is becoming more of a common occurrence in rural parishes, Uniting Church Rural Parish of Shepparton treasurer and council member Julie Mercer says.

“Two churches in our parish ... have had to make the decision to close recently. Members were down to very small numbers, maybe three or four,” she said.

“It’s very hard, people have a very strong connection to the church they belong to.”

Hicks Real Estate director Kevin Hicks says this surge in renovated churches hitting the private residential market has been happening for the past 20 years or so.

“There’s always a building that’s no longer required for its original use, then we’ve got to find a new life for it,” he said.

Back in the day: Tony and Julie Mercer's church on River Rd in 2003.

Small churches that have been converted into private residences all over the Goulburn Valley often pre-date cars, going back to a time when people used to travel by horse and buggy to their places of worship.

Now people can drive into town, passing by the century-old halls that used to service the handful of families that made up the original settlements that built them.

Julie and her husband, Tony Mercer, bought the former Kialla Methodist Church on River Rd in 1999, complete with Gothic doors and windows, spiral staircases and stubborn cobwebs.

"It’s no good seeing it sitting somewhere and just falling down. I'd love to see people use them, they're great spaces,“ Mrs Mercer said.

The couple loves the history of the church and has collected historic Methodist paraphernalia including a hymn board, church organ, a baptismal font, and even the original pulpit from where the priest would conduct services.

Kialla was the cradle of Methodism in the Goulburn Valley, with the original church made of a bush timber frame, with slab walls and a bark roof, replaced in the early 1900s by a timber construction.

The existing church building in which the Mercers now live was built in 1938 with concrete bricks made by the Methodist congregation.

The church was then renovated into a home by teacher and potter Ray Molony, who bought the church from the congregation in 1973.

For a person of faith, Mrs Mercer said living in a former place of worship was different, but comforting, and visitors were always remarking that the building emanated peace and tranquillity.