Parishioners in Lowburn and Cromwell will soon have their own custom-built church to complement the existing one that they have quickly outgrown.

The new Lakeside Church in Lowburn Valley Road has been years in the planning, all fully funded by the 120 members themselves, through fundraising, donations and with help from a loan.

At 600sqm it is quite an upgrade from the original 60sqm church that was rebuilt at the inlet, after the original one was inundated with water when the lake was formed following the Clyde Dam project.

The new Lakeside Church in Lowburn under construction. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APP

The New Life Pentecostal church purchased the original one from the Cromwell Presbyterian congregation after it was rebuilt in town, 15 years ago.

Pastor Bruce Wast said after years of collaboration and several designs, they decided to build a separate church right next to the small one, as it would’ve taken a lot of engineering to join the two together.

The small 60-seater church will continue to be used for Sunday School, and church members would carry out their own fitout of the new one, once builders completed the framework.

“It will be good to have some skin in the game."

Lake view…the original 60-seater church will continue to be used for Sunday School. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APP

Bruce said the church would have plenty of traditional features, such as a higher pitch roof similar to the existing one, and complete with a vestibule, knave and altar.

“We want to retain the integrity of the original one.”

Andrew Duncan, of Cohesive Construction, said this was the first church he and his team had been involved in, and there were plenty of interesting features to keep the build challenging.

“This will become a real focal point for the community where people would come to gather if there was a civil defence emergency, so we’re building it extra strong.”

The gable end, for example, was given extra reinforced bracing. 

Bruce said there was no exact finish date in mind, as it would depend on the availability of trades people in the church congregation.

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