A Talk in Commemoration of 150 years of Anglican presence and the centenary of the consecration of Holy Trinity Church

By Father John Stewart, Vicar, Holy Trinity Anglican Church East Melbourne
Director, The Living Well Centre for Christian Spirituality
Friday 19 October 2007

Thank you all for coming this evening to share in the joy of our celebrations. When we started thinking about how we would celebrate these important events, we were clear that we wanted to offer something for our friends and neighbours in the wider community of East Melbourne.

It is 150 years since Anglican worship and ministry commenced in East Melbourne, and in two days time it is 100 years since the current parish church was consecrated. Both these events are important for East Melbourne and for Anglicanism – and our partnership with the community is demonstrated by your presence with us this evening. So do enjoy the champagne and food – do have a look at the historic display here. And do come with me as I sketch a little of the story which brings us to this day.

In preparing these reflections, I say thank you to Sylvia Black and Elizabeth Alexander for their assistance. They spent hours reading through our archival material and giving me reams of notes about what I might share with you.. Obviously I can’t share a lot – but I hope what I do share will give you a sense of the bigger story. Might I also thank those who have worked so hard in other ways – Jill Fenwick and the Historical Society, Elizabeth Cam and the catering people, and David Aspin and the planning committee.

The Church

Quite early in the settlement of Melbourne there was a desire to provide for Christian worship, pastoral care and mission. In the early years there were seventeen churches in East Melbourne, of twelve different persuasions. The first Anglican church in East Melbourne was St Peter’s founded in 1846. Another congregation started meeting in Francis Hobson’s Iron Store at the rear of Bishopscourt. Then on 5th July 1857 Bishop Perry blessed “a very commodious and well built schoolhouse” on the corner of Victoria Parade and Hoddle Street. It was the start of Trinity Parish and services were held in the schoolhouse. It was a mission church to the working class families who lived on the low-lying Richmond and Collingwood flats. Trinity Public School was also based at that building, and it alternated with the church on Sundays. At the time there were few residents in East Melbourne and most of the buildings were temporary – indeed, the first land sales in East Melbourne had only taken place in 1853. So the parish is almost as old as East Melbourne itself.

That beginning was marked by controversy. A Crown Grant of land had been made of the area bounded by Clarendon, Gipps, Powlett and Hotham Streets. It was intended to be used for the Bishop’s home, the Diocesan Cathedral and the Diocesan school. Local residents hoped that the parish church would be built on the Clarendon Street site – but the bishop refused. Protest meetings and lobbying continued and seven years later a complete bluestone church seating 500 was opened near the corner of George and Clarendon Streets. It was to be the first stage of the Cathedral. It was blessed by Bishop Perry in 1864.

The congregation moved to the new building and Sunday School services continued at Victoria Parade for another 50 years as a branch of Holy Trinity. That site is now the home of St John’s Catholic School and Church.

In 1866 money was raised to build a Parsonage on what is now 25 Hotham Street. Over the years, clergy lived at several locations until a Vicarage was built on Clarendon St, the corner of George Street. That served until 1970 when it was replaced by the Clarendon Apartments and 193 Hotham was purchased as the Vicarage.

In the 1870s the Diocese decided not to build the Cathedral in East Melbourne and the foundation stone of the present St Paul’s Cathedral was laid in 1880. So Trinity became the parish church of East Melbourne.

Holy Trinity church was finally cleared of debt after forty years of use and fundraising, and it was consecrated by Bishop Lowther Clarke in 1903. On New Year’s Day 1905 the brand new Vicar, the Revd Newport White preached his first morning sermon. At 3pm the church was completely gutted by fire. The insurance cover enabled a replacement to be planned and built and by September it was under way. This red brick building on this site was cleared of debt in two years and on 19th October 1907 – 100 years ago today – it was consecrated by Lowther Clarke, who had become the first Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne.

In 1956 the steeple was blown off the roof in high wind.

The MacBean Vestry was added in 1957.

1964 brought the celebrations of the centenary of the establishment of the parish and the dedication of the first church. Archbishop Woods presided at the Eucharist. Tapestry kneelers had been lovingly worked by members of the congregation and they were dedicated. They held a back to Trinity service which was attended by the boys of the Cathedral choir. And two memorials were unveiled – the centenary plaque on the west wall and the list of Incumbents in the narthex. They also launched a centenary appeal for funds to maintain the properties.

Memorial garden was added in the 1980’s.

In August 1988 fire destroyed the Cairns Memorial Church and some members of their congregation joined Holy Trinity. There had always been ties with that congregation, since its foundation in 1881. Next year marks the twentieth anniversary of that fire and we will observe the anniversary when it comes around.

Alterations were carried out to the Sanctuary area of the church, especially by removing the choir stalls and providing a new altar area. Further alterations were carried out several years ago to provide for the ministry of the Living Well Centre – a ministry in spirituality based at the parish centre.

The Parish Hall

In 1888 the parish hall was built. It provided facilities for all kinds of community activities. Mutual and moral improvement societies, literary societies, gymnastic and athletic clubs catered for the young. The ladies of the church were active on auxiliaries and in the affairs of the Richmond and East Melbourne Ladies Benevolent Society. It was also, for a time, the home of the Cathedral choir school. Other groups who have used the hall over the years include the Victorian Folk Song and Dance Society, the Dickens Fellowship Society, Melbourne Chorale, Council of Adult Education, African Love Bird Society, the ALP, dancing classes, tennis club, East Melbourne Harriers. On a number of occasions it was used as a polling booth. In 1967 it was used as a centre for the Billy Graham Crusade. In recent years it has been the home of the Mothers Union Diocesan shop and the temporary home of the East Melbourne library. It is now used as the administrative centre for AngliCORD – an Anglican agency for overseas development and relief work.

In the 1990s five residential units were added to the Parish Hall. They are administered for the parish by the Ministry of Housing and provide affordable housing for low income people.

Financial struggles

The church’s activities and difficulties mirrored those of the wider society. In 1885 there was a land boom and crash. Many people left the area and the Vicar was asked to accept a drop in stipend from £400 to £300 per annum; the parish ran an overdraft of £120. Income from pew rents was important for a long time. In 1888 annual income from pew rents was £518 whilst collections amounted to £358. In 1901 the situation was changing – pew rents brought in £256 and collections £524. In 1908 a vestryman resigned because the vestry refused to reduce the vicar’s stipend from £325 to £300 to balance the budget. In 1913 Scotch College and PLC were paying pew rents. In the 1930’s, a time of depression and drought, a special collection was taken up to support the farmers in the Mallee. We find ourselves in a similar situation again and have recently entered into a partnership with the Parish of Horsham to support them in this time of rural crisis.

Some characteristics

Holy Trinity has always been an important centre for the participation of women. In 1899 a Ladies Working Guild was formed and a Ladies Guild in 1930. Church rules in those days prevented women holding office in any parish, but in the late 1930’s the Vicar of the day got around the rules with a very forward thinking committee of three women and three men who worked as a committee of the Vestry. Fund raising was an important part of their work – and so too were social and musical programs, monthly support and fellowship meetings and occasional speakers on topics of interest. A Womens’ Fellowship was formed in 1973 and later it opened its membership to men.

Music has always held an important place at Holy Trinity. From 1890 the Cathedral choir were located at Holy Trinity until their own facilities were ready. For many years the parish had a robed choir who led regular services of worship and also participated in choral festivals and competitions. In 1913 a manual organ was purchased and in 1930 an electric organ blower was acquired. In 1940 the blackwood casing was added to screen the pedal pipes. In 1972 further alterations were made. George Harrison was the organist for 25 years from 1951. On his retirement our current organist, Laurie Moore was appointed – after the Cairns Memorial Church burnt down. Music continues to play an important part of our worship and the congregation happily explore all kinds of music traditions. Last year we purchased a concert grand piano through many fund raising efforts. It is already proving to be a wonderful asset. Last Sunday the internationally renowned pianist Geoffrey Tozer gave a wonderful recital as part of our anniversary celebrations. The repertoire he played consisted of piano pieces composed to explore biblical stories and faith issues.

Sunday School was also important from the earliest times. By 1881 there were 18 teachers, with 227 pupils. They had a library of 400 books and enjoyed an annual excursion to Brighton Beach. In 1913 there is a record of examinations held and prizes awarded.

Humour and signs of changing times

In 1901 the vestry received a letter from the organ blower.

I respectfully desire to direct your attentions to the present draughty and unsatisfactory state of the organ chamber. Prior to the alterations to the organ a small partition was provided to screen the blower from the draught from the doors and also to allow a certain amount of privacy from the congregation. This partition was not replaced. … Trusting you see your way clear to kindly rectify the above before the winter months.

The amount paid to the organ blower for his services was £13 per annum.

At about the same time the Vestry wrote to the choirmaster as all was not well. The letter complained about members of the choir arriving late for the services, leaving before the sermon, talking, laughing and other irreverent behaviour during the services. It is pointed out that the tunes in our Hymn books are composed and harmonised by the leading masters of music. They should therefore be played and sung as to time, harmony, and expression, only as they are written, without embellishment by anyone.

In 1902 Bishopscourt was 50 years old and it was recommended it be demolished. The report said that the building was costly to maintain, inconvenient and unsatisfactory as a residence, out of repair, out of date and in an unsanitary state. All of that sounds rather familiar – 100 years later all that is still being said.

In 1908 the Vicar gave a vigorous address about reverence in church and he spoke particularly of kneeling at the prayers. He received a sharp response from a parishioner. It pointed out that it was all very well for the Vicar to be encouraging kneeling – he had a well padded kneeling desk at the front. The rest of the congregation have only bare floorboards – the Incumbent’s remarks under present circumstances are weakened, and in fact are apt to be considered unreal. The writer went on to suggest that thin hassocks could be provided in each pew for around two shillings.

In 1939 the Revd Crossley made alterations to the Vicarage at his own expense and asked the Registrar for permission to sublet some of the rooms. There was controversy for a time amongst parishioners. It was resolved by giving him permission to let the rooms to the ladies already residing there and that a member of his family lived with him. He had to refund the rent to the church funds.

In the same year the parish invited all 154 couples who had married there in the previous 5 years to renew their vows. 100 came, some with their wedding parties. A musical program followed. The most popular song was by Mr L Matters I wish I was Single again, accompanied by his wife.

In 1940’s women were expected to wear hats to church as a sign of good manners; and they were asked to refrain from wearing lipstick because they did not want it to mark the communion cup.

Also in the 1940s, early in the war Joan and Ron Dixon tell the story of their request to be married during Lent as it was the only time they had before embarking on overseas service. The Revd Gilder refused to marry them, but eventually agreed when the archbishop gave permission. But there were conditions – he insisted her neckline should be high and that only a small bouquet should be carried. When the bouquet arrived from the florist it was huge – so Joan trimmed it with an axe before walking down the aisle – cutting it into three.

During WW2 they decided to leave the church open every day and a social club was formed to cater for soldiers on leave.

In the 1960’s the Synod recommended that raffles be banned. Trinity people were in the habit of running raffles – so they made the concession that when there was a member of the Archbishop’s family present, they wouldn’t bring out the raffle.

The Royal Overseas League had to get special permission to serve a glass of sherry at one of their meetings in the hall.

People

Dr John Singleton was a member of the first Vestry and well known citizen. He was a formidable and controversial personality; innovating medico, social crusader, evangelist. He distributed thousands of religious tracts to prisons and other places. He tells of entering the waiting room of a brothel, distributing suitable tracts, and exhorting the clients awaiting their turn to renounce their evil ways. He founded the Melbourne Total Abstinence Society, the Collingwood Free Medical Mission Dispensary, the Temporary Home for Fallen and Friendless Women and the Men’s Model Lodging House.

P H Nunn, the founder of Buckley and Nunn was a founding member from 1857 until his death in 1909; his daughter Annie was a member until she died in 1969.

Sir William Clarke and Lady Janet Clarke lived at Cliveden. Lady Clarke was in NZ when she heard of the fire – she sent a message immediately to the parish offering the use of Cliveden.

Arthur Anderson secretary of vestry for 60 years, from 1873 to 1933.

E F Cooke was Superintendent of the Sunday School for 40 years.

Selina McBean was involved from 1895 to 1948. As a result of her bequest to the parish, the McBean Vestry was added in 1957.

Stuart Esnouf was involved in many parish activities from 1930 to 1993.

Dr John Macdonald, John Petty and others.

In addition 14 clergymen and 4 bishops and 9 archbishops during these 150 years.

More recent times – links to community continue.

Brotherhood bin “is the best they have”, they tell us.

Pastoral ministry at the Mercy and Freemasons Hospitals – memorial service for relatives who have lost loved ones.

Sausage sizzle has just completed its 12th year –it has raised over $150,000 during that time – much of which has been given away to church welfare and mission projects.

Meditation group meets weekly and offers a space for people – some church members and others are not – to experience meditation and its benefits for daily living.

Regular musical recitals are offered, including the series in connection with these anniversary celebrations.

Monthly luncheon for socially isolated was run for a number of years. It is in recess at present – but it was a wonderful example of practical care and friendship.

Book fair comes around each year and gives many local residents the chance to swap their books and extends their collections.

St Mark’s Community Centre and Lazarus Centre are supported by the groceries and other items parishioners bring week by week.

Conclusion

The parish story is one of courage, faithfulness, tenacity, perseverance. It is truly wonderful that we can celebrate this anniversary. What else in East Melbourne has lasted 150 years? I can’t think of any other group, organisation or institution which is still carrying out its business after 150 years in this community.

But, we might ask - What’s the point of all of this?

Holy Trinity, like other communities of faith has always been on about the work of God as expressed in Jesus Christ. So regular worship and prayer is at the heart of our life.

And Rites of passage are available to all who seek them – I wonder how many baptisms, marriages, and funerals have been celebrated here.

And the Church is always open during day light hours offering a sanctuary for all who pass by. We have a book in the entrance porch for visitors to record their comments. That book is a study in itself of every human condition recorded by people who take a moment to step in off the street and reflect on life.

Several years ago the congregation worked together to develop a Mission statement. It sums up all we want to say thank you for in these celebrations as well as all we commit ourselves to for the future.

In this faith community we seek to reflect the all-inclusive hospitality of God and welcome the Spirit of Jesus Christ present in all peoples, experiences and places.