The popular Sacred Spaces will no longer be holding tours, concerts, weddings or venue hire at its site in Queen Street.
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This follows a difficult decision made by the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea to cease the operations of the Sacred Spaces Ministry on the Convent site.
The site is currently closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the official closure of Sacred Spaces is effective from September 1, 2020.
In 1995 the Singleton site became the home of the Sacred Spaces ministry as a place of welcome, hospitality, heritage and culture and has touched the lives of people who have passed through the doors. The Institute is currently exploring options to enable the long term future of the convent site.
Unfortunately, after much deliberation, the level of funding per annum required to subsidise Sacred Spaces to enable the ministry to continue, as well as to maintain the building and site is financially unsustainable now and into the future.
A spokesperson for the Institute said "In exploring future options, the Institute is keen the property retains a community focus".
"The property will be cared for and maintained, including when the Sacred Spaces ministry has closed on the site"
Sacred Spaces are very grateful to the many sisters, staff and volunteers who have been part of the Sacred Spaces story over the past 25 years.
Sacred Spaces, a volunteer group conduct tours of the Convent and Chapel, host musical events and small scale meetings and make the Chapel available for weddings.
The Mercy Convent opened in 1909 is one of Singleton's true treasures a wonderfully preserved complex that exudes ambience and tranquillity all set in a timeless garden.
In 2014 a planning group chaired by John Drinan conducted a series of public consultations in Singleton and Newcastle and more than 120 people attended.
The group was formed to find the best way to maintain all that is great about the Convent, and at the same time ensure it can generate the funds needed to maintain it in its current near perfect state.
In early 2016 Dr Drinan Dr told the Singleton Argus he was hopeful the group's final report will be completed in six weeks.
He said everyone involved in the discussions and planning sessions felt the Convent should be retained as a community and religious icon, which serves a wide range of purposes consistent with the service orientation of the Sister of Mercy.
