Parish campus redevelopments: tips, surprises and learnings
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“The Parish of Ekibin’s campus redevelopment is six years into the planning and 13 months into the ‘build’…I have learnt much during the process and even made some surprising discoveries,” says The Rev’d Dr Timothy Nicholson from St Luke’s, Ekibin
The Parish of Ekibin’s campus redevelopment is six years into the planning and 13 months into the “build”. I have been the rector of St Luke’s since 2020, so the planning stage commenced before my appointment. I have learnt much during the process and even made some surprising discoveries.
Our campus redevelopment includes a refreshment of the 1950s memorial church where we hold services, including the addition of a large, covered deck; a renovation of the original 1925 church (latterly the church hall) for community meeting spaces; a new “Little Angels” early learning centre (administered by the Anglican Schools Commission); and a new hall, with performance space, for the St Luke’s Theatre Society.
“Our campus redevelopment includes a refreshment of the 1950s memorial church where we hold services, including the addition of a large, covered deck,” (The Rev’d Dr Timothy Nicholson on 19 March 2025)
There have been some wonderful surprises, especially in the build process.
For example, my wife, June, discovered stained glass windows in the theatre’s prop storeroom during the final pre-construction cleanup. With the help of the Records and Archives Centre’s digitised microfiche, we identified that the windows were from the early days of the parish when the 1925 centre was used for services. These windows have now found a new home in their old home, flooding the new kitchenette in the parish’s office area with light.
“My wife, June, discovered stained glass windows in the theatre’s prop storeroom during the final pre-construction cleanup…These windows have now found a new home in their old home, flooding the new kitchenette in the parish’s office area with light,” (The Rev’d Dr Timothy Nicholson in the original 1925 St Luke’s Church, Ekibin building on 19 March 2025)
Another surprising blessing is that several new couples and families have joined our congregation during the build. I thought that the construction works would deter people, even existing parishioners, from coming to services and other gatherings. Instead, the construction works have attracted people to our church.
Another wonderful surprise is that the works have become a point of conversation with wider community members, giving parishioners and me the opportunity to tell people about our parish community.
While I have an engineering background, I have learnt much in the planning and build processes of the redevelopment.
For example, I have learnt that ongoing communication to parishioners is essential, through both words and images.
To help parishioners “own” the development, I’ve learnt how important it is to encourage them to provide input and to participate and to help them understand that this is part of our mission.
St Luke’s, Ekibin parishioner Trevor staining the presider’s chair in the sanctuary on 19 March 2025 during the parish’s campus redevelopment
It’s also important to trust the advice and feedback of the experts, including Hiro and Cenk from the ACSQ Property team; our architect, Matthew Patterson, from Ceccato + Associates; and our construction company, Chapcon Design and Construct.
In a similar vein, it is essential to proactively collaborate with any campus partners. For example, I have worked closely with the wonderful Anglican Schools Commission team about the early learning centre and the talented St Luke’s Theatre Society folk.
Top 10 tips for successfully undertaking your parish campus redevelopment:
- Consultation with parishioners is key. One of the first things I did was organise working groups of parishioners to discuss design requirements and subsequently review architect feedback and ideas. Each working group was responsible for discussing a particular area of the development.
- Ongoing communication is also key. One of the most helpful things I regularly do is share photographs of various construction stages to parishioners through social media, our church magazine and during services.
- Ensure you inform your neighbours ahead of the development approval being lodged with Council, such as through “letterboxing” and inviting them to a morning/afternoon tea. Consider inviting your architect to this gathering so specific “why” questions can be asked. If it’s a large project, it’s also worth informing your local Councillor.
- Be prepared to do your usual things in different ways. For example, we rearranged furniture in the church so that we could hold post-gathering teas and suppers at the back of the church when the hall became a building site (any priest would tell you that rearranging furniture in a church can be “delicate”).
- Listen to the experts who are there to help, such as the ACSQ Property team; your architect; and your builder. Collaborate actively with other onsite partners.
- Ensure you have a clear, concise two-sentence summary of your redevelopment and its purpose because community members will certainly enquire about it.
- Make the most of the opportunity to sort through items in storage that have accumulated over the years.
- Help your parishioners navigate inconveniences like portable toilets and limited parking through good communication and exploring options with your builder.
- Plan and promote well ahead the “opening” of your new campus, allowing busy people, such as the Regional Bishop, the Archbishop, inter-faith leaders and elected representatives, to schedule the gathering in their calendars.
- Reach out to the media, including anglican focus and the mainstream media, once the development is completed so they know to cover the story.
Author’s note: The St Luke’s, Ekibin parish campus redevelopment will be opened by Archbishop Jeremy Greaves at 3pm on Sunday 20 July. Please register online for catering purposes by Thursday 17 July.
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