pink church

SCARBOROUGH

First owner: St Paul’s of Scarborough Church Current owners: Sam and Amanda Bennett, and their children, Bobby, Alfie and Banjo

Images Creative Events Photography

How long have you lived here? 11 years.

What attracted you to buy this home? The pink facade of the church by the sea was the initial hook.We were then taken by the double height ceilings, wide open spaces and, particularly, the peaceful warmth that she holds.

Do you know anything about the history of the home/building? Our grand dame this year celebrates her 100th birthday.The Church, formerly known as St Paul's of Scarborough was a functioning part of the community until 1986 when it was sold to a private buyer and has been through a number of hands since. It has seen many weddings, weekly religious meetings, and I’m sure, has many stories to tell if these walls could talk.

Have you made changes to the home? Only superficial maintenance to protect her integrity and also internal cosmetic improvements. The building has had previous extensions and changes made over the years to convert it into a three-bedroom home with lofted living spaces.

Living in such a unique place full of history, have you ever had any strange senses or spooky encounters? It is quite the opposite, this home holds a space of calm, so I assume someone has really worked their smudge stick to clear the energy. We did have a very large diamond python that based itself on our verandah roof for many years and would wrap itself around the steeple... what is a church without a resident python? ¡ Sam: I love the church. We are really lucky to have found her when we did. The large, open living area is a particularly calm space, and I love the deck with ocean and escarpment views. Both are great spaces to relax with family and friends. I get lost in the views on a daily basis. Amanda: I could never part with this home – it is so unique, beautiful and holds grace. I smile every time I round the bend and see her sitting quietly, unaware of her own beauty. We are proud custodians of a very special home within an amazing community of supportive families that round out paradise for us. Bobby, 7: It has a lot of history and I love the colourful windows. There's also a lot of space to play. Alfie, 6: I love that we have a creek in our backyard to catch tadpoles and I love our big tall roof. Banjo, 4: I like the loft because I can spy down on people.