Large-scale sale of Anglican churches in Tasmania is raising the wrath of parishioners

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The Central Highlands of Tasmania is one of the areas where people are up in arms about the proposed sale of a number of Anglican churches. In the original proposal, 108 properties, of which 76 were churches, were intended for sale to raise funds to pay compensation to victims of child abuse by clergy. Some of the cases date back many years. At the moment, 55 churches are on the market. A letter to the editor of ‘The Highland Digest’, a small local paper, reminded readers that the churches were built by donation, often on land given by private benefactors. Parishioners contain to maintain these churches. Those that have cemeteries attach hold the remains of parents, grandparents and children. Six churches are being sold just in this one area leaving only one in the entire Central Highlands area. While many may not have huge congregations, community members find their local church a place of quiet spiritual peace. The letter urged readers to bombard the Bishop with phone calls and letters of protest. I wonder what the outcome will be. The photo is of a small church in Western Australia which was decommissioned and sold.