If a proposal is approved, the first church of Mar Thomas Christians of India will start drawing worshippers from all regions of Australia by 2021.
Bethel Mar Thoma, which is expected to cost 11 million Australian dollars, would become the state’s largest Indian church.
It would come up at in Horsley Park, a suburb of Sydney in the state of New South Wales.
Bethel Mar Thoma Church Sydney Incorporated lodged the application for the 2.9 hectare development in September, and will be assessed by the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
The proposed building on 1650 The Horsley Drive will include the church, a 700 square meter multi-purpose indoor recreation facility, office, meeting rooms, library, amenities and off-street parking for 83 spaces.
Church trustee George Paniker said the name was derived from the Assyrians because the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar was part of the ancient Christian community in Kerala, India, founded by St Thomas the Apostle.
“We are Mar Thoma Christians, meaning the Christians of Saint Thomas, and belong to the churches of the Assyrian tradition,” Paniker said.
He said about 350 Indians would travel from all over Sydney to attend.
“This would be our main church so we’re very excited about it,” Panker said.
“We chose Horsley Park because it’s a predominantly Christian area and it’s close to everything and everyone. Right now we’re worshipping at an Anglican Church in Harris Park so it would be great for us to have a home.”
The church will provide religious services including weekly Sunday services, Sunday school, bible studies baptisms, weddings and funeral services as well as religious festivals.
Panker said many fundraising and charity events were planned to help raise the money needed to build the church.
“We expect construction to start as soon as it’s approved and to finish the work in about five years.”
According to the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics, close to 2,000 Indians live in the Fairfield region.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said many religious places are starting up in the area and was proud that more than $500 million of investment will occur in Fairfield this year alone. “Since the financial year ending June 2002 and up to June 2015, Fairfield has had $1.7 billion worth of residential development and $1.5 billion in commercial development.”
Horsley Park is located 39 km west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Fairfield. It is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.
Aboriginal people from the Cabrogal tribe, a sub-group of the Gandangara tribe, have lived in the Fairfield area for over 30,000 years. European settlement began in Fairfield in the early 19th century. Horsley Park was originally part of Colonel George Johnston’s 2,000-acre property “Kings Gift,” which was given to him by Governor King for his part in putting down the Irish Rebellion at Vinegar Hill in 1804.
After his death it passed to his daughter Blanche who in 1829 married Major George Nicholas Weston. He built an Indian colonial style homestead on the property and named it “Horsley” after his birthplace in Surrey, England. Horsley Homestead is one of the few remaining early colonial buildings in the Fairfield district today protected by The Australian Heritage National Trust.
Today, Horsley Park is known to have a rich Italian and Maltese heritage residing. It is also known for being the original location for the formation of Club Marconi.