THE 128-year-old St Peter’s Catholic Church at Grandchester has been sold to a Brisbane buyer who is understood to have plans to develop it as an art centre.

This announcement was made by Ipswich Parish Priest Father Stephen Bliss on Thursday (October 27) following the holding of a final Mass in the old church.

Father Bliss also deconsecrated the church.

It was an emotional time for parishioners and community members.

“Within these walls, families have gathered through the generations to take part in weddings, blessings, funerals and church Masses, and throughout the final mass on Thursday some of these stories were shared.”

Father Bliss said the decision to decommission the building had been a difficult one.

“Many families have shared long associations with St Peter’s and it is inspiring to see so many families come together for one last time to remember these times,” he said.

“There have been many lovely associations within this church, I have heard many stories that have been quite inspiring and the vision that people who have gone before us must now continue.

“The church will be sold empty which means that the pews, the altar and all of the sacred items will remain with the Catholic community, when the new owners take possession on November 7.”

Father Bliss said the church had been purchased from the parish by a family from Brisbane.

“My understanding is that it will be used as an art centre.”

Initially the parish had planned to move the church onto the grounds at St Edmunds in Ipswich.

“There were also other offers from other schools who were happy to have it placed on their land,” Father Bliss said.

“Though the Ipswich City Council would not allow the Catholic community to move the building, nor are they allowing it to be moved on the actual site.”

Parishioners Michael O’Donoghue and Ken Baker grew up in Grandchester and they attended mass at St Peter’s with their families, from the days when families would turn up in a horse and sulky.

“Well, it is a day of many mixed emotions, and when certain times are remembered it does bring a tear to the eye” Michael said.

“We both shared our first Holy Communion and were baptised here.

“As boys we were the Altar Boys and my mother Esther and Ken’s mother Kathleen both prepared the food, tea and coffee that were shared after each Mass from the early days when there was no power.

“We both grew up on a farm and we recall Father Brown visiting us to bless the crops.

“It’s just a small example of how the church was connected with community.”

• St Peter’s Catholic Church was opened by Archbishop Robert Dunne, on the invitation of Parish Priest Andrew Horan, on Sunday, November 4, 1895.

The church was designed by Architect Henry Wyman and build by Ipswich builder, James Madden.

It cost £130 to build and the pews cost an extra £10 5s.

It was built on 7.5 acres (3 hectares) of land purchased for £161 10s. It was free of debt at the time of the opening, however, Father Horan asked the congregation to raise a further £70 to finish off “some necessary work and to build the sacristy”.

More than £60 was raised on the day of the opening through the collection plate and the sale of luncheon tickets. More money was also promised by guests as well.

The land on which the church was built was the site of an hotel. The inn was opened in 1850 by Wellmand Douyere, who gained a liquor licence in April that year.

It opened as the Jockey Club Inn and while it underwent a number of name changes in the next 40 years, it remained the site of a country inn until it was purchased by the parish.