Church Stores, a 120-year-old Christian supplies and gift shop, has relocated from the historic Dymocks Building in Sydney CBD to a new premises in Wentworthville.
Store owner Tim Wallace said the store was originally opened as a supplier of Anglican products, but it evolved gradually to serve a wider range of customers.
“We supply all the denominations nowadays, we have Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and largely Catholic customers. We have even worked with the Great Synagogue,” Tim said.
Tim has more than 15 years’ experience in the business, so he and his wife Ivy Marie jumped at the opportunity to continue the tradition of the store when the former owners retired five years ago.
However, due to increasing rent costs, less foot traffic post-COVID and a shift in consumer behaviour habits (customers preferring to shop online or via phone orders), the store relocated to Wentworthville earlier this year.
Tim and Ivy Marie Wallace have owned Church Stores for five years now. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Tim and Ivy Marie, originally from Brisbane and Melbourne respectively, first met while they were both studying at Campion College in Toongabbie. Living within the Diocese of Parramatta with their two young children, Ivy Marie is also a part of the Choir at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta, so, moving Church Stores “closer to home” among the vibrant community in Western Sydney felt like a no-brainer.
Ivy Marie Wallace (right) singing in the choir for Bishop Kevin Manning’s Solemn Mass of Christian Burial at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta (August 2024). Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta.
The store is overflowing with an incredible range of Catholic items from large statues to small rosaries, sacred brass and vessels, cards for special occasions, children’s toys, incense, books.
There are gifts and devotional items for every occasion, each carefully selected by Tim, as the quality of the items is of utmost importance to him.
“We avoid anything that is going to wear out too quickly or candles that are going to make a mess,” he said.
“We only supply nice incense, which is popular in homes and churches. We insist on high quality and that is what separates us from the other stores.” He said.
A wide range of gifts and devotional items are available at Church Stores, Wentworthville. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
Customers can also find church wares including candle sticks, chalices, offertory bags, brassware, altar linens, clergy shirts, publications and books.
However, their most prized in-store items are their custom-made vestments and garments.
The intricacies and details are carefully curated by in-house tailor Jenny who works alongside Tim. They have created hundreds of custom-made garments over the years, ensuring every piece is tailored perfectly.
A tailor-made Chasuble and Stole purple vestment set. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
When asked about the most interesting item stocked in store, Tim recalled a large brass Eagle Lectern statue, which he sold a few years ago to St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart.
However, today his favourite pieces stocked are the various iconography paintings.
“We have some hand painted iconography, which are all made in Australia,” he said.
“Many of them are embellished quite heavily by hand with gold.
“A local Egyptian artist named Safa created some items that are stocked here and had made quite a few for Coptic Orthodox Churches over the years,” Tim said.
“The icons help us to pray. And they make churches and homes look fabulous,” he added.
Iconography hand-painted by local Greek and Egyptian artists available in-store. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.
While the move to Wentworthville is a big change from Sydney CBD, Tim is looking forward to serving and getting to know the local community.
“We are keen to help people in the expression and development of their faith, and we’re happy to help with advice on whatever they are looking for with our wide collection of goods.”
Visit at Shop 6/15 Bransgrove Street Wentworthville, 2145 (store front faces the Great Western Highway), or shop online. T: 02 9233 2268
