Latest news with #StJohnTheBaptistChurch
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
First-time buyer snaps up former presbytery at five-way auction
A quintet of buyers' hunger to take a bite out of turning a 120-year-old former presbytery into a beautiful new home have earned a keen price a local Catholic Church. The circa-1906 residence alongside four newly subdivided vacant blocks were carved out from the still operational St John the Baptist Church in Winchelsea. Five bidders raised a hand for the 1237sq m property at 3 Mercer St, as the home was offered with a $440,000 reserve price. It sold at the marathon auction for $515,000. Hayeswinckle Highton agent Michelle Winckle said the rare Federation style dwelling had never been on the market before. 'It was full of character. It needed significant work done, yes, because it was a church's house, so it needed to be turned into more of a home and it had been quite abandoned over the last few years,' Ms Winckle said. 'But the potential to renovate and restore a beautiful home was the main thing that the buyers fell in love with. 'And with the reserve of $440,000 all the first-home buyers within the area could see that they could pick up a beautiful character home on a 1200sq m block right near the river.' Ms Winckle said the $400,000 to $440,000 guide represented the property's land value, but it was a beautiful house to upgrade. The weatherboard house retains original period features such as 3.7m ceilings, high skirting boards and ornate timber mantels. A series of flexible rooms, including one with a bay window and a basic kitchen and meals area, sit off a wide central hallway. There's also scope to extend, subject to council approval, or add an outdoor entertainment area or garaging, taking advantage of the property's rear access. The property was nearly knocked down to a bidder for $485,000 before another emerged, adding $30,000 to the eventual sale price. Ms Winckle said Winchelsea's surf coast hinterland location had created a lifestyle hot spot. 'People that can't afford the coastal areas, they can come 20 minutes to Winchelsea, which is half an hour to Geelong, Colac, Lorne, Torquay, Anglesea, Airey's Inlet. 'It's half an hour to everything – it's so central – Winchelsea has got so much potential because it's sitting right there. 'It's easy to access Geelong on the ring road and it's quick to access Melbourne and you're getting a much larger block. 'You've still got the river, you've got a town that's growing, so people are seeing more potential for growth there than possibly an area where Torquay has already been massively commercialised.'
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Pierogi Fest returns to Whiting, Indiana, with food and live music this weekend
The popular Pierogi Fest, honoring Eastern European culture through food, kicks off Friday in Whiting, Indiana. This year, the weekend-long event will feature more than 75 food booths, two beer gardens, and 55 vendors. The event starts at 11 a.m. Friday with the Polka Parade wrapping up day one at 7 p.m. According to the events website, those planning to attend can find free parking around the town, but there will be six paid lots that will benefit churches and organizations, including: St. John the Baptist Church - Lincoln Ave. and 119th St. Sacred Heart Church - 1800 LaPorte Ave. St. Adalbert Church - 2106 Indianapolis Blvd. St. Mary's Byzantine Church - 2011 Clark St. St. Paul's Lutheran Church - Atchison Ave and Indianapolis Blvd. Whiting Football Parking Lot - 500 Center St. Shuttles will also run Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Shuttles will not run during the parade. The last shuttle bus will run at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. Shuttles are $5 or $20 for families of 5 or more. Children under 6 years old ride free. Bus services and handicap park is also available. The event will be headlined by Five For Fighting singer John Ondrasik, who will take to the main stage on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. There will be six stages with more than 50 performances scheduled, including a polka dance contest and other traditional performances. Starting as a small festival in 1993, serving just 1,200 people in its first year, Pierogi Fest now sees millions of visitors yearly. The event will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. CBS News Chicago is a proud media partner of the event.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Shropshire church asks for support with £200k repair bill
A church that is facing a £200,000 repair bill has asked a town council for John the Baptist Church in Whittington, Shropshire, needs work doing on its masonry, gutters and parquet secretary Margery Mellor said "areas of concern" had been highlighted in a recent inspection and she has asked Oswestry Town Council for said the diocese had also been asked for support, but the likely cost was "vastly beyond our ability to fund". The external masonry in need of repair was over the chancel arch and altar and was causing internal damaging dampness to the walls, Ms Mellor also told the council: "All have Grade II listed status, with the inevitable strictures which it places on remedying the problems."In her letter, she said: "Our church is not only a place of worship, but is an active resource for the village as well as a building with its own intrinsic historic and architectural value, and as such does generate tourists to come in and look around."At the same time, she said she appreciated "that funds are tight" and that the council could also help by endorsing grant applications. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
