Orange real estate agent Stephen Townsend who managed the sale had predicted the building formerly known as St Luke's Anglican church would fetch $350,000 at auction when it hit the property market in early November.

On Saturday, December 12, the 91-year-old building in Forest Reefs surpassed that figure by $60,000, selling for $410,000 and leaving its vendor in tears.

"[It was] well above the reserve," Mr Townsend said.

"She was very, very happy. It was unexpected."

Mr Townsend, himself, admitted some surprise over the final figure but ultimately said it was obvious "the way the market was going" in terms of the demand for former places of worship.

In the lead-up to Saturday's auction, six different parties had registered to bid before three made themselves known on the day. By the time the hammer fell, it had gotten down to two.

The successful buyer, a local woman, is still uncertain what to do with the property which only has partial dwelling approval from Blayney Shire Council.

The property also has no septic tank or system and no running water. Mr Townsend previously told the Central Western Daily he believed it would take at least $150,00 to convert it into a residence.

What it does have though - namely spectacular views and a location of 10km from Milthorpe, in addition to its status as a former church - was enough to spark a "flurry of interest" as soon as it was listed online in early November. In the first three days, Mr Townsend had fielded over 50 enquiries.

At an open inspection which was attended by the Central Western Daily, the church's interior gave no hint that the building had been deconsecrated and sold by the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst into private property around a decade earlier.

The complete lack of disturbance to the former place of worship was partially due to the time it took to acquire a dwelling entitlement from Blayney Shire Council, Mr Townsend explained.

The Forest Reefs church is the second former place of worship to fetch well above its reserve in recent weeks. A month prior Lucknow's 147-year-old bluestone church had similarly been expected to fetch $350,000. However, the eventual figure came in at $430,000.