New look for historic church

THE historic Palmwoods Uniting Church has been expanded to provide a new entrance area and improved accessibility.

The extension has been carried out in keeping with the architectural style of the church and includes a new porch, serviced by a ramp and steps attached to the eastern side of the original building.

The new entrance also has space for toilets to replace the old outhouses, and an entry lounge.

The refurbishment program has also seen the interior remodelled and repainted. The format of the worship area has been reversed to take advantage of the new entry and has also been repainted.

Church Elder Lawrie Matthews said the renovations, which had taken two months to complete, made the church more user friendly, particularly for people with disabilities.

"It has all been done in keeping with the style of the original 1928 building. We had to get special weatherboard to do that," he said.

"It’s much more functional now with ramp access and interior toilets."

The congregation is inviting all residents to celebrate the church’s new look with a special service at 10am on Sunday, June 21. The Palmwoods Uniting Church will celebrate its 70th anniversary in November.

Mr Matthews, who is currently compiling the church’s history, said the Uniting Church in Church Street, originally the Methodist Church, was one of four churches built in Palmwoods between 1924 and 1928. Only the Uniting and Anglican churches remain. The Catholic Church was on a site near the Police Station while the Presbyterian Church was higher on the hill above the Anglican Church in Hill Street.

"It was once called Church Hill as all the churches were along the top here, although Churchill Street itself took its name much later from Sir Winston Churchill," Mr Matthews said.