Father Greg Bellamy said studies began last year on the building’s condition, which revealed “significant challenges”.

“One of the challenges is the spire – the bell has fallen silent because the wood supports were found to be rotten and we had to close the tower,” he said.

He said there was significant rising damp because the sides of the church were built from bitumen and concrete and moisture had seeped between the bricks.

“It was painted three years ago and already, sections are coming off because of the damp,” he said.

Father Bellamy said a number of the English-made Hardman and Co windows had already been removed due to concern they could fall out of the walls. 

The removed windows await restoration by Robin Seville, who will meticulously remove each piece of glass and clean them before piecing the windows back together with new lead. 

“With the extremes of Orange weather, they expand and contract and the lead just gets tired,” she said.

Ms Seville said the different shades of colour achieved in a single pane of glass made the windows special.

The parish held an information session on Sunday, with another to follow on Tuesday at 6pm, to share the building’s condition and discuss a way forward.

Father Bellamy said the parish would seek expressions of interest for a steering committee to oversee the repairs, expected to cost at least $1.5 million, with a sub-committee for fundraising.

Expression of interests will also be sought from tradespeople. 

“The church is important, not just for the Catholic community, but the Orange community,” Father Bellamy said.

The repairs are hoped to be complete by the church’s 150^th anniversary in 2021.

For more information, contact the parish office on 6362 2378.