A local church in Stroud, north of Newcastle, restored by author and former ABC weatherman Graham Creed is now up for sale.
Mr Creed and his partner Bridgit English lovingly restored the former St James Presbyterian Church built in 1887 and deconcentrated in 2008.
After purchasing a farm in the area in 2015, Mr Creed said the pair were in and out of town regularly when the property first sold in 2018 to another buyer, later purchasing it in 2021 before starting their transformation process.
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25 Erin Street, Stroud is currently for sale
Graham Creed and Bridgit English inside the Stroud residence
Inside the bathroom of the church conversion
“It sat with nothing done to it for 13 years when we walked in and brought it back to life,” he said.
“My partner saw it in 2018 when it first went up for sale, but we didn’t have the available cash to be able purchase it.
“When it came back up for sale in 2021 we were permanently living up here so it totally changed the dynamic as we had some cash that we could use and it enabled us to walk in and grab the church.”
After the pair purchased the iconic landmark, Mr Creed said the approval process took 12 months with the build itself taking just under a year also.
Determined to protect its heritage while making it relevant for contemporary living they began a restoration in collaboration with MidCoast Council following heritage requirements reimagining it into a studio-style home.
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The restoration process of the Stroud church
Inside the church conversion
“We felt a deep desire to bring it back in a way that demonstrates its past, acknowledges the people that built it, worshipped in it and those who maintained it, while preserving it into the future,” Mr Creed said.
“This is why we restored it the way we have, so guests can experience its character, history and feel inspired during their stay.”
The church is now offered as a walk-in walk-out (WIWO) opportunity, complete with furnishings, appliances and established branding for holiday rental use.
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Graham Creed and Brigit English in front of the church
Sales agent Dee Braithwaite of Ray White Rural Lifestyle Sydney said the property has wide appeal.
“All the hard work is done, someone can move straight in and enjoy, or continue it as a unique short-term or weekender accommodation opportunity,” she said.
According to Mr Creed, there was no definite plan at the time of purchase.
“There were lots of surprises,” he said.
“When we bought the church, we really didn’t know what we were going to do with it, we initially thought of a community space where we sort of envisioned medical suites so different medical users could come in and rent rooms and it meant people who came into town didn’t have to travel.”
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Original features remain in the converted residence
Mr Creed said the initial idea became quite problematic due the historical aspect of the church and the requirements for a commercial residence and instead began the process of transformation for residential use.
According to Mr Creed, when they took the floor out they were able to do a lot of structural work to stabilise the church and discovered there was so much usable wood underneath.
“It really changed the way that we looked at the church as a residence, we didn’t want it to lose its character and part of that was using the wood that came out of the floor,” he said.
“It was a real journey of discovery right along the way.”
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Mr Creed in front of the church
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Mr Creed said he hopes the buyers realise the meaning of the church for the community.
“One of the things the community has told us is that many people when they go past and the lights are on, they say that it’s so nice to see that the building is being used again.
“It’s up to whoever buys it as to what they do with it, whether they Airbnb it, use it as a weekender or live in it permanently
“I just hope that they realise how an integral part of the community that it has been and a historical part of town.”
Expressions of interest close on November 7, unless sold prior.
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