No. 1506 - Koonya - St Alban's Anglican Church (1904)

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Koonya is a small settlement on the Tasman Peninsula approximately 5 kilometres west of Taranna. In the 1840s a site was developed here for the establishment of the Cascades convict probation station. The Cascades was renamed Koonya in 1887.

The origins of St Alban’s Anglican church date back to July 1894 when a public meeting was held to consider the construction of a church at Koonya. Following the meeting Mr J.R. McClymont donated 3 acres of land for a church and cemetery. However almost a decade was to pass before before further progress was made. During this time Anglicans’ worshipped in the Koonya State school.

The church’s foundation stone was ceremonially laid on Saturday 1 July 1902. The tender for the building’s construction was was awarded to Mr. Clarry Tatnell. However, construction was delayed and the church was only completed in early 1904. On Sunday 6 March 1904, the church was officially opened and dedicated to St Alban by Bishop Mercer who also consecrated a portion of land for a cemetery. In October 1904 plans were put in place for the construction of a rectory and a further 2 acres of land was donated by Mr and Mrs Edward Brown for this purpose.

In 1926 a stained glass window was dedicated by in memory of Reverend J.H. Wills who had died following a car accident on the Port Arthur road.

St Alban’s is still in use and falls within the Anglican Parish of South East Tasmania with services held on the third Sunday of each month. It is also used by the Tasman Catholic community which meets on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.

St Alban's at Koonya - Photographer: Ralph Cruickshank


Photograph: Sue McC (Find A Grave)


Photograph courtesy of "Visit St Alban's" Facebook page


St Alban's at Koonya. Photographer: Karina Barker



Sources and further information:

Mercury, Friday 23 May 1902, page 4
Mercury, Thursday 24 July 1902, page 5
Mercury, Saturday 15 August 1931, page 10 
Mercury, Saturday 31 December 1904, page 10

Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania. Mercury-Walch, Moonah, Tas, 1978.

"Visit St Alban's" https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083645884766

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2724319/st-alban's-anglican-church-burial-ground
 

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