General News
10 July, 2026
Historic church for sale
THE Anglican Church’s flagship and historic St John the Evangelist Church is one of two in the city being sold by receivers.
St Luke’s Church in Cairns North is also set to be sold after the Supreme Court approved the next stage of the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland’s ministry renewal plan.
St Alban’s Rectory in Innisfail and vacant land adjacent to St David’s Church in Mossman are also included.
Bishop Keith Joseph said the decision was “incredibly sad” but necessary to secure the future of Anglican ministry across North Queensland.
“They’ve done nothing wrong,” Bishop Joseph said.
“We have to pay for the sins of the past,” he said.
The Bishop said St Luke’s congregation had already been preparing to relocate before the diocese entered receivership because the ageing timber church building was nearing the end of its useful life.
“We’ve been planning for some years now for moving St Luke’s,” he said.
“They’re in the process of moving down to worship at Trinity Anglican School at White Rock, so in a sense their journey has been ongoing for some time, well before the receivership.”
He said the situation at St John the Evangelist was different. “It’s just sad. It really is very sad. It’s a matter of great grief.”
The congregation is expected to relocate to St Margaret’s Anglican Church at West Cairns, while maintaining its own identity and worship times.
“We’ll do our best to keep the congregations together even as they move to new locations,” Bishop Joseph said.
He said heritage items, including stained-glass windows, would be preserved where possible.
The receivers said Monday’s Supreme Court approval would allow the diocese to proceed with phase two property sales, while also assessing whether some sites could be reconfigured to sell surplus land while retaining church buildings for ministry and community use where practical.
They said the church would continue working to resolve several long-standing lease arrangements affecting land held on trust for Indigenous communities.
A spokeswoman for the receivers said proceeds from approved property sales would help the diocese meet its obligations to survivors of historic abuse, fund the ongoing cost of ministry and rebuild to support ministry into the future.
“The receivers acknowledge that the possible sale of church properties is difficult for parishioners and the wider community,” the spokeswoman said.
“These decisions are not made lightly and are part of a broader process to ensure the diocese can continue to serve across North Queensland.”
At the court’s request, the receivers said they would continue engaging with parishioners, local communities and other stakeholders as the property program progresses – and would report back to the court at a future hearing.
The diocese says the broader renewal plan is intended to address declining attendance, an ageing volunteer base and an operating model it says is no longer financially sustainable. Under the proposal, the diocese plans to reduce its property holdings while reorganising its 54 ministry units into seven regional ministry areas.
Cairns Local News sought comment from parishioners at the affected churches but was unable to obtain on-the-record interviews before deadline.
