18th June, 2024.
Communities in Silverdale and Warragamba celebrated a momentous occasion: the official opening of the Grace West Anglican Church in Silverdale. I joined Chris Braga, the senior minister for the church; Felicity Grima, the principal of Penrith Anglican College; the member for Badgerys Creek; and Kanishka Raffel, the Anglican archbishop of Sydney, to share in the joy and pride of seeing this project come to fruition. The dream to establish this church first began in the early 1980s, and many members of the church community have worked hard for decades to finally be able to step over the threshold of the newly opened building. A special mention must be given to Margaret Fowler, whose determination ensured that the dream was never in doubt. Senior Minister Chris Braga noted that a church is a gathering place and the people inside are what give it its importance. With special thanks to the generosity of the builders, the architect, the donors and everyone who sacrificed to see this building established, the church now has a thriving base from which to serve, help and care.