WHEN Alison Wren bought a block of land in Eurobin in early 2021, there just happened to be a church on the property which came with the title.

It was St Clement’s, a former Church of England, built in 1910 by the people of Eurobin.

"Rescuing an aging and ailing building that is small and humble, yet means so much to so many, has meant a lot to me," Alison said.

"When I first visited the area years ago, I would bring my then teenage son with me who particularly fell in love with the region.

"Over the last couple of years, my son kept showing me realestate.com notices of houses in the area.

"I eventually thought: maybe he's on to something there.

"So, very gradually and definitely, I ended up here.

“Now I just keep meeting the most wonderful people.”

The house Alison had bought was another story.

Built in 1986, it was desperately in need of a makeover, but with its unique layout, Alison realised it could be adapted for half of it to function as a B&B.

She now runs two listings on Airbnb: one end of the house, 'Church House Eurobin' and 'The Blue Room'.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the income from these listings has gone straight into breathing life back into the church,” she said.

Every piece of timber has received some sort of treatment, either replaced or sanded down, varnished and repainted, with the work undertaken by a Bright carpenter.

As the restoration has progressed, so too has Alison’s connection with the community and its history.

So far, she has reached out and recovered the earliest photos of the church from 1911.

“I’ve spoken with descendants of those who attended the church over 100 years ago," she said.

"I’ve learned about the first wedding that took place there, on 15 March, 1910 and how St Clement’s served the local Anglican community until its final service in 1971.

"These stories make the church more than just a building, it’s a piece of living history.

“Going forward, I’d love to see it used for small weddings, community events, classes that focus on wellbeing and anything that brings people together in a positive way.

"The church was built with love and generosity over a century ago and that spirit deserves to live on.

“It’s amazing to think that when I bought this property, I thought I was just buying a house.

"Now, I’m part of a much bigger story and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

The 115-year anniversary and restoration unveiling will occur at St Clement’s Church in Eurobin on Saturday, March 15.

For more details, visit the dedicated 'Church Eurobin' Facebook page.