No. 1527 - Adventure Bay - St Paul's Anglican Church (1933)
Adventure Bay is small settlement on the eastern side of Bruny Island. It lies at the southern end of the Adventure Bay named after Captain Furneaux's ship "Adventure" in which he visited Van Diemen's Land in 1773. Adventure Bay was also visited by Captain Cook on three occasions, first in the "Endeavour" then twice in the "Resolution". Two other noted visitors were Captain Bligh of "Bounty" fame and Matthew Flinders, who set foot on Australian soil for the first time Bruny Island. British whalers were reported in Adventure Bay by 1804. Whaling stations operated in the bay from 1826 at four separate locations. During the 19th and 20th century the bay was used by the timber industry and the township of Adventure Bay at the southern end of the bay was the site of both extensive timber mills and a long jetty from where seagoing vessels could load timber.
In 1905 St Paul’s Anglican church was built at Adventure Bay. The church was destroyed by bushfires in 1927 but was replaced by a new building which was constructed at another site in 1933. The focus of this article is on the second church.
The foundation stone of the new church was ceremonially laid by in May 1932 and the building was opened and dedicated in May 1933. The Mercury’s report on the opening provides considerable detail about the church:
“In February, 1927, owing to a disastrous bush fire, St. Paul's Church of England, at Adventure Bay, with all its contents, was destroyed, and the loss of the building was a great set-back to the congregation, as the insurance on the church had lapsed”.
“In 1929 Mr. A. E. Mansell, who had charge of Bruny Island in the interests of the church initiated a movement for the building of a new church, and at a meeting of the congregation a building committee was elected. This consisted of Messrs. Johnson, O.H. Hansen, F. Watson, and Mesdames Kaden and Davey. The committee has since been strengthened by the addition of Messrs. Pybus, F. Jackson, M. Kaden, H. Craig, W. Hansen, and Mesdames Dorloff, Speddy, Hansen, sen., and Miss F. Jackson”.
“The committee set to work to raise funds, and by means of entertainments, fairs, and subscriptions have so far secured about £146. During the last five years the diocese has carried on the services at its own expense, allowing the offertories to be devoted to the building fund. The offertories amounted to approximately £50, making a total of £196, and the sum of £50 was borrowed from the diocese”.
“In June last the foundation stone of the new church was laid by Mr. A. E. Mansell, and the contract was let in February last to Messrs. Dean and Knop, of Kingston, for the sum of £175. All the junk timber was given by Mr. A. Davey, and Mr. H. Kaden and Sons carted it free of cost. The church, completed and furnished as it is, would have cost considerably more had it not been for the liberality of many friends, who have presented the church with the following gifts: Three mammoth Rochester lamps, Prayer Book and Bible, altar with four frontals, fair linen cloth, lectern frontal, altar cross and alms dishes, altar vases, altar desk, lectern, prayer desk, and credence bracket, and harmonium, and a church seat. Mrs. Pybus has loaned her organ for use until the harmonium arrives”.
“The building site is the joint gift of Mr. F. Watson and Mrs. Hodgson; and the side fencing material has also been, given. The church was dedicated by the Bishop of Tasmania (the Right Rev. Dr. R. S. Hay) on May 17, when the Bishop was assisted by Ven. Archdeacon D. B. Blackwood, the Revs. J. W. Davison and R. B. Cranswick, and Mr, Mansell and Mr. Downie. The proceedings commenced with a public tea meeting at 5 p.m…..”
“The dedication service followed, and the church was crowded, many persons being obliged to stand in the porch. The special dedication service of the diocese was used, the font, lectern, and altar and furnishings being separately blessed. After the dedication five children were baptised by the Bishop. The Bishop, in a practical, address, showed how the new church was a witness for God, a place where the soul met with God, and where the burdens often carried might be laid down and left with God…”.
At the conclusion, of the service the congregation adjourned to the hall, where a social gathering was held”.
The church still functions and is one of two Anglican churches on the island.
In 1905 St Paul’s Anglican church was built at Adventure Bay. The church was destroyed by bushfires in 1927 but was replaced by a new building which was constructed at another site in 1933. The focus of this article is on the second church.
The foundation stone of the new church was ceremonially laid by in May 1932 and the building was opened and dedicated in May 1933. The Mercury’s report on the opening provides considerable detail about the church:
“In February, 1927, owing to a disastrous bush fire, St. Paul's Church of England, at Adventure Bay, with all its contents, was destroyed, and the loss of the building was a great set-back to the congregation, as the insurance on the church had lapsed”.
“In 1929 Mr. A. E. Mansell, who had charge of Bruny Island in the interests of the church initiated a movement for the building of a new church, and at a meeting of the congregation a building committee was elected. This consisted of Messrs. Johnson, O.H. Hansen, F. Watson, and Mesdames Kaden and Davey. The committee has since been strengthened by the addition of Messrs. Pybus, F. Jackson, M. Kaden, H. Craig, W. Hansen, and Mesdames Dorloff, Speddy, Hansen, sen., and Miss F. Jackson”.
“The committee set to work to raise funds, and by means of entertainments, fairs, and subscriptions have so far secured about £146. During the last five years the diocese has carried on the services at its own expense, allowing the offertories to be devoted to the building fund. The offertories amounted to approximately £50, making a total of £196, and the sum of £50 was borrowed from the diocese”.
“In June last the foundation stone of the new church was laid by Mr. A. E. Mansell, and the contract was let in February last to Messrs. Dean and Knop, of Kingston, for the sum of £175. All the junk timber was given by Mr. A. Davey, and Mr. H. Kaden and Sons carted it free of cost. The church, completed and furnished as it is, would have cost considerably more had it not been for the liberality of many friends, who have presented the church with the following gifts: Three mammoth Rochester lamps, Prayer Book and Bible, altar with four frontals, fair linen cloth, lectern frontal, altar cross and alms dishes, altar vases, altar desk, lectern, prayer desk, and credence bracket, and harmonium, and a church seat. Mrs. Pybus has loaned her organ for use until the harmonium arrives”.
“The building site is the joint gift of Mr. F. Watson and Mrs. Hodgson; and the side fencing material has also been, given. The church was dedicated by the Bishop of Tasmania (the Right Rev. Dr. R. S. Hay) on May 17, when the Bishop was assisted by Ven. Archdeacon D. B. Blackwood, the Revs. J. W. Davison and R. B. Cranswick, and Mr, Mansell and Mr. Downie. The proceedings commenced with a public tea meeting at 5 p.m…..”
“The dedication service followed, and the church was crowded, many persons being obliged to stand in the porch. The special dedication service of the diocese was used, the font, lectern, and altar and furnishings being separately blessed. After the dedication five children were baptised by the Bishop. The Bishop, in a practical, address, showed how the new church was a witness for God, a place where the soul met with God, and where the burdens often carried might be laid down and left with God…”.
At the conclusion, of the service the congregation adjourned to the hall, where a social gathering was held”.
The church still functions and is one of two Anglican churches on the island.
 |
| St Paul's at Adventure Bay. Photograph with thanks to Karina Barker |
Sources:
Mercury, Monday 6 June 1932, page 3
Mercury, Monday 22 May 1933, page 3
Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh s.n [S.l. 1978
Comments
Post a Comment