BREAD and wine are set to be served again at Eskdale’s old Catholic Church.
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But they will be served at tables, rather than an altar.
The building sold for $103,000 at auction in January by the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst is becoming The Church Cafe Eskdale.
The eatery is the brainchild of Tallandoon couple Angela and John Mills, who have lived in the Mitta Valley for seven years and have a poll hereford stud.
“We love the community, we want to give back to the community that has supported us, supported our family,” Mrs Mills said.
“We would hate to see it left to rot or not used for a purpose for the community.”
Built by Wodonga’s Dunstan and McCullough for 1080 pounds, the church opened in April 1929.
Built of reinforced concrete, it was a simple country church without stained glass.
Inside evidence of its past use is limited to four doorside fonts which contained holy water for blessings.
The Mills hope to open for business by summer, following final planning hurdles.
Towong Council earlier this month conditionally approved a planning permit to allow the site to be used for a cafe and serving of alcohol.
Planning consultant Ron Mildren, who prepared a report for Towong Shire on the proposal, told a council meeting the cafe would be a drawcard to the region.
“This will be an important business addition to the tourism structure in the Mitta Valley,” Mr Mildren said.
“It has the potential to be an attraction in its own right.”
A deck to allow outdoor dining will sit under an elm tree on one side of the church, with a kitchen to be built on the other side. It will be open seven days a week with breakfast, lunch and dinner to be served.
Mrs Mills said it would be an “inclusive not exclusive environment” with “good coffee, good tea and wholesome food”.
It will cater to 50 diners.
Since buying the site, the Mills have repainted the exterior and corrugated roof, although regulations have created frustration.
A mock headstone has been erected to “Mr P Lanning, Very Late of Towong, Assumed Dead due to Inactivity, Father of Circles and Lover of R. Tape, Died in Denial, Buried in Bumbledom, May 2017, No Longer Wasting Oxygen” near the church.