THE spiritual leader of the Anglican church in Australia says he is unable to intervene to save St Clement’s Church at Camberwell.
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Locals fighting to save the 1841 church, that was damaged in a 2008 arson attack, contacted Dr Phillip Aspinall earlier this month.
They appealed to him to intervene and prevent Newcastle’s Anglican diocese from decommissioning the church and spending the $375,000 insurance payout on other churches in the area.
In a letter to Camberwell resident Deidre Olofsson dated March 27, Dr Aspinall said that he was powerless to intervene in the matter.
‘‘While I recognise the significance to you of St Clement’s, under the Constitution (1962) I have no power to investigate or alter the decision to close the Church,’’ he said.
‘‘Decisions of diocesan bodies, such as Property Approvals Boards, are solely a matter for the diocese concerned.’’
A date for a deconsecration service at the church has not been set.
The Newcastle diocese has previously rejected speculation that it plans to sell the site.
