The future of St Margaret’s Church

A pastoral Q&A for our Parish community

The following questions and answers have been prepared to help our Parish community understand the situation facing St Margaret’s Church with clarity, care and respect. We recognise that this is a deeply significant matter for many parishioners, families, students and past members of St Margaret’s community, and we want to walk through the process with openness, compassion and prayerful attention.

Q: When was an announcement first made regarding the closure of St Margaret’s Church?

A: St Margaret’s parishioners were first advised about the likelihood of the church’s closure through informal communication in the first quarter of this year, once key parish bodies had reviewed the Building Audit and Condition Report.

Q: How are you informing and engaging with parishioners about the loss of St Margaret’s Church?

Engagement has already commenced through information conveyed via the Parish Sunday Bulletin together with announcements at Masses, as well as efforts on a personal level, and a dedicated feedback email address and survey for parishioners. Understanding your feelings about the future of St Margaret’s Church will help us to come together in nurturing and healing as we prepare for our loss. A planned Gathering for Prayer, Reflection and Discussion at St Margaret’s School on 18 July from 2-4pm will be held and all parishioners are invited so we can unite with the Holy Spirit as our guide.

Q: Is the closure of St Margaret’s Church now likely?

A: The closure of St Margaret’s Church is formally proposed due to the building’s extremely poor and unsustainable condition. We understand this prospect will bring great sadness, concern and uncertainty for those who have worshipped, gathered and celebrated important milestones at this landmark institution for our faith. Relevant agencies of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, such as the Property & Infrastructure Office and Proclaim: Office for Mission Renewal have provided information and guidance, including compassionate engagement with the community and working with St Margaret’s parishioners, the school and families as we prepare for the transition with reverence and care.

Q: Why were building condition reports undertaken for St Mary’s and St Margaret’s Churches?

A: Two separate building condition reports were undertaken in 2025 by an independent building audit consultancy for both churches. These reports were commissioned in view of furthering the progress of the Parish masterplan. The audits were needed to help us understand the condition and safety of the buildings, and to guide responsible decisions about their future care.

Q: Who prepared the building audit reports?

A: The audit reports were developed by Ultum, an independent building audit consultancy.

Q: How do the audits relate to the Parish master planning process?

A: The audits were an important step in helping Parish Leadership understand how best to care for our church buildings into the future. They form part of a broader master planning process that seeks to imagine how our Parish assets can continue to serve the community, support Parish growth, and strengthen our shared mission of faith for generations to come.

Q: What did the report find about St Mary’s Church?

A: The building condition report for St Mary’s identified important works that need attention. Some first steps have already been taken, including urgent rectification works for the stained-glass windows and replaced leaking sections of slate roofing at the presbytery. These works are part of our ongoing responsibility to care for the places entrusted to us.

Q: What did the report find about St Margaret’s Church?

A: The condition of St Margaret’s Church is of particular concern. The audit identified a number of serious structural and safety issues, including the presence of asbestos and multiple structural defects. Over time, the building’s foundations have eroded and the flooring has weakened, creating significant safety concerns. The report assessed St Margaret’s as poor to very poor across several areas of building integrity and non-compliant with current structural regulations and safety standards.

Q: Why is non-compliance such a significant issue?

A: The first responsibility must always be the safety and wellbeing of parishioners, students, families, staff and visitors. The current level of non-compliance presents serious health and safety risks. It also makes future insurance coverage very difficult to obtain, with the current insurance period for St Margaret’s Church due to expire in November 2026.

Q: What options have been considered?

A: Key parish bodies have considered whether to invest more than $700,000 in urgent rectification works to make St Margaret’s safe and compliant to a basic standard, which would only be of benefit for a few short years, or whether those vital funds could be used more cost-effectively to better serve the Parish community well into the future. This was not simple matter to address and it presented a situation that required careful deliberation of options.

Q: Who has reviewed these options?

A: The Parish Masterplan Reference Group, along with the Parish Advisory Board and Finance Committee, has carefully reviewed the options. These groups have been considering how best to act responsibly, steward Parish resources wisely, and care for the long-term needs of the whole Parish community.

Q: What advice has been received from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne?

A: The Property & Infrastructure Office of Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has been consulted for advice and direction, and initial contact has been made with the Finance Office of the Archdiocese. The Property & Infrastructure Office has emphasised the necessity since 2024 of the importance of the development of a Parish masterplan to invigorate and foster renewal of Parish and mission life.

Q: What will happen following community feedback?

A: After listening to the community and receiving feedback about how to best support and provide pastoral care during this difficult time, a letter will be written to the Archbishop, formally petitioning the closure of St Margaret’s Church and seeking his approval. Community feedback is an important part of this process, and the Parish leadership seeks to ensure people can understand the reasons and rationale for closure, share their reflections and gather together for the next phase as we honour the legacy of St Margaret’s Church and its connection to our community of faith.

Q: What planning will be required in the months ahead?

A: The months ahead will require careful planning, sensitivity and clear communication. Engagement has already commenced through a dedicated feedback email address, survey for parishioners and a planned Gathering for Prayer, Reflection and Discussion at St Margaret’s School on 18 July from 2-4pm. A working group will map out the steps required in line with Archdiocesan guidelines. This will include developing a thoughtful strategy to communicate important milestones to the community, such as a final commemorative Mass at St Margaret’s and the transition to Mass services at St Mary’s.

Q: How will the history and legacy of St Margaret’s be honoured?

A: The Parish and Archdiocese recognise this will be a challenging and mournful time for St Margaret’s parishioners and families. St Margaret’s has been a place of prayer, worship, community and memory for many people. There is a strong commitment to honouring the church’s history and legacy with dignity, including the careful preservation of its sacred and historical artefacts. The community will be invited to be part of this process and to share their memories of spiritual joy through photographs and personal mementos.

Q: How will the Parish community be kept informed?

A: Further updates will be shared as the feedback, closure and transition process progresses. Parishioners will continue to be informed at Sunday Mass and through the Parish Sunday Bulletins and website. We are committed to communicating as clearly and compassionately as possible, and to accompanying the community through each step of this journey.

Q: What will happen to the Masses at St Margaret’s?

A: The 8.30 Sunday morning Mass normally celebrated at St Margaret’s would be transferred to St Mary’s. Sunday bulletins and information via the Parish website will communicate this transfer once confirmed.

Q: How will St Margaret’s students and their families be accommodated for Masses and other school celebrations?

A: There will be needed discussions and planning concerning this question.

Q: How will elderly parishioners of St Margaret’s, and those with a disability, health needs or who are mobility-challenged, be assisted to attend services at St Mary’s?

A: Various support options, such as transportation for parishioners with special needs, will be considered as we progress the transition process together. We seek your ideas for how to best assist and care for the most vulnerable members of our Parish community.

Q: What happens after the church is closed? Will the precinct be safe for St Margeret’s School students given the serious level of asbestos in the church building?

A: After the church is formally closed, the area surrounding the building will be securely fenced off to ensure no entry to the site. The asbestos present in the building will remain intact and undisturbed, posing no health risks to students and the community while the church remains in place.

Q: What is the timeframe for demolition of the church and how will this be safely managed?

The timing for removing the church building from the site is dependent on a number of factors, such as project planning and relevant statutory approvals, including required council permits and authorisations from WorkSafe Victoria. Other considerations, such as ensuring demolition occurs outside of the school term while the area is unoccupied, will influence the timeline with demolition activity not anticipated until at least 2027. Strict safety regulations as set by WorkSafe Victoria will ensure the process is managed with the highest degree of caution.

Q: What will happen to the church land? Has a decision been made to sell the site?

A: The site occupied by St Margaret’s School and Church is under one land title in the name of the Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation of the Catholic Archdioceses of Melbourne. The school remains an extremely important and valued educational asset to the Maribyrnong community and beyond. Increased student enrolments and ongoing interest and support from local families proves the school is viewed as a prized primary learning facility, providing high-quality academic and development outcomes, and faith-based growth opportunities for children as they forge their spiritual path. 

No decision has been finally made regarding how the site will be fully utilised under the master planning strategy. Optimal uses for the land, with respect to how it can be developed to serve the school and Parish community into the future, will be considered as the master planning progresses and input is sought from the community through ongoing feedback.