Court documents lodged by the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland’s recievers, SV partners, in the Queensland Supreme Court, seek authority to sell twenty-two churches, plus one instance of vacant land. The church sales have been triggered by a large redress debt owed to survivors of sexual abuse, which largely occurred in children’s homes, and which is estimated to grow to $22m
The diocese has paid $9m+ in redress claims and expects $8m to $15m in further claims.
The diocesan website reports, “As many in our diocesan community will know, the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland is currently undertaking a court-supervised renewal process. This process is intended to help us meet our obligations, restore financial stability, and support a sustainable future for ministry across the region.
This means that the sales will pay for the receiver’s fees, redress, plus re-ordering the diocese.
St John’s Church, CAIRNS
Vacant land next to St. David’s Church, MOSSMAN
St. Margaret’s Church, NEBO
Good Shepherd Church, MIRANI
St Mary the Virgin Church, GARGETT
All Saints Church, KOUMALA
St Bartholomew Church, CARMILA
St. Matthew’s Church, MALANDA
St Michael’s Church, MILLAA MILLAA
St Barnabas Church and Rectory, RAVENSHOE
St. Margaret’s Church, CROYDON
St Aidan’s Church, PENTLAND
St Augustine’s Church, FORSAYTH
St Michael and All Angels Church, GEORGETOWN
St Thomas’ Church, HUGHENDEN
St Peter’s Church, NORMANTON
St John the Baptist Church, RICHMOND
St Luke’s Church, WEIPA
St James’ & St John’s Church, KARUMBA
St Helen’s Church, HOME HILL
John Oliver Feetham Church, CARDWELL
St Matthew’s Church, TOWNSVILLE
St Peter’s Church, TOWNSVILLE
This list does not appear to include other churches already announced as being for sale. An earlier report by commercialrealestate.com included seven churches
“Churches for sale in this first phase of a two-part rollout include St Luke’s in Cairns, Holy Trinity in Herberton, St John’s in South Townsville, St Margaret’s on Magnetic Island and St Mark’s in Townsville. Associated residences include St Alban’s Rectory in Innisfail, St Paul’s Rectory in Proserpine, St Paul’s Rectory in Charters Towers, Holy Trinity Rectory in Bowen, and the central Townsville Rectory, as well as vacant land in Pentland. The second batch of properties will include St Ambrose in Mackay North and St James the Great Church in Mount Isa, among others.”
Whilst it is a shame to have to sell all these properties to pay redress to survivors, the Faith of congregations will not suffer like the survivors have – often for decades.
Religions will continue to to operate, congregations will find a meeting place to hire until such time as gifts, donations and support allow the purchase of land to construct another church or rectory.
What cannot be denied is that religious institutions have covered up, denied responsibilities and mistreated victims of child sex abuse in preference to selling their assets and accepting the historical guilt.
Once receivers are appointed, they also appoint lawyers, and the fees of both, which are very high, get paid first. Typically the receivers and their lawyers get a larger portion of funds than other
interested parties. It will be of interest to see what level of redress actually reaches the claimants. The dispersement of funds will be shown in the mandatory financial acquittal statements that the receivers must make public.