Sydney is growing rapidly. Over the next 40 years, an additional 3.2 million people are expected to call our city home.
This growth is set to occur in the north-west and south-west growth corridors, as well as around the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis. An equal amount is also expected to be located in existing urban areas where urban infill will contribute to increased population densities.
This represents a huge opportunity to introduce Jesus to millions of new people. It also represents a significant challenge to deliver the kind of church infrastructure from which to base our evangelistic efforts and provide meeting spaces for Christians who populate these new urban release areas.
To meet this challenge, SAP is acquiring land in strategic locations within Sydney’s growth areas and following up with construction projects. A number of new churches are already in place in areas such as Stanhope Gardens, Oran Park and Leppington, while others are in the process of being delivered.
Below you can find more information about these various projects. If you would like to support this important gospel work, you can do via the Archbishop’s New Churches for New Communities Fund.
Greenfields Strategic Plan
To learn more about SAP’s strategic approach to delivering new churches in greenfields areas of Sydney, check out our Greenfields Strategic Plan 2023-2025 that explains the Diocese’s plan, process and priorities for acquiring new land within the current business cycle and beyond.
Greenfield Design Guideline (a.k.a. The Nucleus Design)
To keep pace with Sydney’s growing population, the Diocese needs to deliver around one new church every year for 30 years! Uniquely designed modern church facilities don’t come cheap however, so to help deliver new churches in a more efficient and cost-effective way, SAP is developing what we call ‘The Nucleus Design’.
The Nucleus Design is a ‘base design’ that delivers high quality ministry spaces with simplicity, affordability and constructability in mind. Importantly, Nucleus will provide the same amount of overall ministry space as previous, unique projects, but in a way that is internally configurable to respond to parish needs, and which can accommodate future expansion should the church need it. We’re piloting this approach in the new church build at Marsden Park in Sydney’s north-west.
One of the major benefits of Nucleus is that each new greenfields church design, approval and construction project will not be starting from scratch. By providing a standard, yet modular, design template, the entire process is designed to be quicker and cheaper than it would otherwise. This means we can get on with building more new churches sooner in the areas that need them most.
Our Greenfield Church Design Guidelines that outline the Nucleus approach are almost complete. We’ll upload them here very shortly.
Existing greenfields projects
Cornerstone Anglican Church, Box Hill
Delivery of a new church building and associated ministry infrastructure for the new Cornerstone Anglican Church.
Life Anglican Church, Marsden Park
Delivering a new church building and ministry facilities for Life Anglican based on SAP’s Nucleus Design approach.
Grace Anglican Church, Catherine Field
Currently investigation options to activate this prominent site purchased in 2023 for ministry at Grace Anglican.
Life Anglican Church, Riverstone
Delivering a new church building and ministry facilities for Life Anglican, Riverstone.
Bradfield Greenfields Site
SAP is currently developing options for activation of this strategically-located site for ministry in the vicinity of Western Sydney Airport and the new Bradfield Metro Station.
Rossmore Greenfields Church Site
SAP is currently investigating options for future ministry on and around this site located close to the future Western Sydney Airport. The existing site and small heritage church are not currently feasible for ongoing ministry.