Save St Paul’s Bankstown: The Fight to Preserve Our Sacred Heritage

Despite a decade-long battle to secure heritage protection, the threat of demolition of St Paul’s Bankstown could be imminent.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Council has become the battleground for this fight. While some councillors advocate for heritage protection, the council leadership under Mayor Bilal El-Hayek has so far resisted listing the church as a heritage site, despite expert advice and community pleas.

Among the most compelling voices in the campaign is that of the Reverend Dr. John Bunyan, whose decades of service and deep connection to the Bankstown community bring a unique and powerful perspective to the fight.

Dr. Bunyan, now 89, has been a steadfast figure in the region’s spiritual and civic life for over half a century. Ordained in 1960, he served as Rector of the Parish of Chester Hill with Sefton from 1978 until his retirement in 2001. His ministry was marked by a commitment to inclusivity, pastoral care, and community engagement.

His relationship with St Paul’s is deeply personal. He was a close friend of the late Revd Tony Wood, founder of St Paul’s Choir School, and the late Revd Tom Lawrence, both of whom are interred beneath the church sanctuary. This connection underscores the church’s role as a spiritual home and resting place for generations of parishioners.

Dr. Bunyan’s submission to the campaign, published here with his permission, is a detailed and heartfelt plea to preserve St Paul’s as a sacred space and community landmark. Drawing on his extensive background as a history teacher, chaplain, and heritage advocate, he highlights the church’s architectural significance and the importance of respecting Christian sacred sites with the same reverence afforded to indigenous and other religious places.

He expresses concern over the Diocese’s current direction, describing it as increasingly narrow and sectarian, which has alienated many traditional worshippers. He laments the loss of St Paul’s once vibrant and welcoming congregation, replaced by a smaller, more insular group that does not fully appreciate the church’s heritage or Anglican traditions.

Beyond his clerical duties, Dr. Bunyan has been a volunteer chaplain at Bankstown Hospital for over 27 years, ministering to thousands of patients and witnessing firsthand the social impact of the Diocese’s policies. His pastoral experience informs his conviction that the church’s closure and redevelopment would be a profound loss to the community’s spiritual and social fabric.

Dr. Bunyan also raises critical questions about the financial transparency of the redevelopment project and calls for heritage bodies like the National Trust to be formally consulted. His advocacy is grounded in a deep respect for the law, church constitution, and the original trust under which St Paul’s was consecrated.

“St Paul’s is not just a building; it is a living testament to faith, history, and community. Its destruction would be a loss felt far beyond Bankstown.”

Dr. Bunyan emphasizes that St Paul’s is not merely a building but a sacred space consecrated as a “temple of the Lord.” He warns that the proposed redevelopment—a massive residential tower on Chapel Road—would fail to preserve this sacred character. Instead, it would replace the church with what he describes as a “plain, un-Anglican neo-puritan conventicle,” a worship space lacking the Anglican identity and visibility that St Paul’s currently embodies.

“St Paul’s, the Parish Church of Bankstown, stands as a physical witness to Christianity and the things of the spirit. It is a potential great encouragement to people of faith who see it. No worship space inside the massive tower could be a substitute for any of that and it is unlikely to have much Anglican character at all.”

Dr. Bunyan voices deep concern about the current leadership of the Diocese of Sydney, which he believes is “almost completely under the control of those whom I regard as hardly Anglican,” supported by the Anglican Church League (ACL). He references the late Archdeacon R.B.S. Hammond’s description of the ACL’s election methods as “carnal,” implying a departure from spiritual integrity in church governance.

Having been ordained for over 65 years and having served under Archbishops Loane, Robinson, and Goodhew, Dr. Bunyan contrasts the Diocese’s past openness with its present narrowness and intolerance, particularly towards “ordinary middle of the road, broad church Anglicans.” He notes that changes to services at St Paul’s were made without proper reference to the Anglican Church of Australia’s Constitution, leading to the departure of traditional worshippers and their replacement by a congregation largely indifferent to the building’s significance and Anglican teaching.

His submission calls for respect for the church’s legal and spiritual heritage, warning against ignoring the law or the Constitution in favor of sectarian success. He stresses that St Paul’s has ample space for a larger congregation and that the Diocese, with its considerable resources, can find alternative means to support the church community.

Dr. Bunyan’s detailed knowledge of church law, history, and architecture, combined with his pastoral experience, makes his submission a compelling call to action. He urges that St Paul’s be preserved not only as a heritage building but as a living, consecrated house of worship that continues to serve and inspire the Bankstown community.

A Legacy Worth Fighting For

As Rev. Dr. John Bunyan so eloquently reminds us, St Paul’s is a consecrated house of God, a beacon of faith, and an irreplaceable piece of Bankstown’s heritage. Its preservation is not just about a building; it’s about safeguarding a legacy of community, worship, and architectural significance for generations to come.

The efforts of the Save St Paul’s Bankstown team, bolstered by expert opinions and heartfelt submissions like Dr. Bunyan’s, are a testament to the enduring power of collective action. We believe that with continued vigilance and community support, St Paul’s can be protected from the threat of demolition.

Let us stand together to ensure that this sacred space continues to serve as a physical witness to Christianity and a source of encouragement for all who pass by. The future of St Paul’s depends on our collective commitment to its past and its potential.

Biography: The Rev. Dr. John Bunyan

The Rev. Dr. John Reynolds Bunyan, aged 89, is a distinguished Anglican priest, scholar, and community advocate. Holding numerous academic qualifications including an MA, DipEd (Sydney), STh 1st Cl. (Lambeth), DipRE Distn. (London), DipBibStud Distn. (Durham), and DMin (San Francisco), he was ordained in 1960. Dr. Bunyan served as Rector of Chester Hill with Sefton from 1978 to 2001 and has been an Hon. Anglican & General Chaplain at Bankstown Hospital for over 27 years. A Fellow of the Sydney Anglican Historical Society, he is also an Hon. Patron of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society, and an Hon. Chaplain to various ex-service organizations.

Dr. Bunyan's extensive memberships include the National Trust (NSW) and several UK church conservation trusts, reflecting his deep commitment to heritage. A published author, he also possesses a profound interest in architecture, having curated significant collections of Christian and civic architectural works. His lifelong dedication to faith, history, and community informs his passionate advocacy for the preservation of St Paul’s Bankstown.

As referred to in Rev. Dr. John Bunyan’s submission, you can explore the Anglican Sketch Book of St Paul’s Anglican Church by Bing Wu — a beautifully illustrated and comprehensive resource that showcases the rich history and heritage of St Paul’s.

View the Anglican Sketch Book here