No. 1599 - Flinders Island - Whitemark - St Alban's Anglican Church (1921)

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Whitemark is the main town and administrative centre of Flinders Island. The name is reputedly taken from a conspicuous white mark placed in the vicinity of the present town, for survey purposes.

Little information is available about St Alban’s Anglican church. The building’s foundation stone was laid in 1915. Launceston’s Daily Telegraph reported:

“The Bishop of Tasmania has been here for the past fortnight travelling through the district. The residents were very pleased at his visit, and have turned up well at the different entertainments. His lordship laid the foundation stone for a church at White Mark, to be called St. Alban's. Already £80 have been collected towards erection”.

There is no published description of the official opening of the church in 1921. However Archbishop Hay’s visit to the Island in June of that year is well recorded as he was stranded for a time and was had to return to Bridport on a police boat. The Hobart Mercury reported:

“Altogether the Bishop has bad a very rough time. The trip over to Whitemark was very unpleasant, as the weather was boisterous. In spite of all his travelling by sea the Bishop suffered from the effects of the voyage”.

Dorothea Henslowe writes in ‘Our Heritage of Anglican Churches in Tasmania’:

“This church was built and dedicated in 1925 and cost £200. The altar is made of wood from one of the old organs previously in St. John’s, Launceston”.

The building was know as St Alban’s Hall until further work was undertaken in 1925. In May, the Launceston Examiner reported that: "additions to the Whitemark Church of England are nearing completion. Mr L.C. Walker is the contractor”.

In July the Bishop returned to Whitemark for a ceremony at the completed church. The Examiner reported:

“Dr. R. S. Hay, Bishop of Tasmania, arrived at Flinders Island by the steamer Colliboi on July 6. A confirmation service was held at St. Alban's, Whitemark, and 13 young people were confirmed. After the church service the Bishop officially opened the St. Alban’s Community Club, which meets twice weekly at the rectory, Whitemark….It is hoped that this club, which is non-denominational, will be fostered, and fill a long felt want…The first wedding to take place in St. Alban's, Whitemark, was solemnised on Wednesday by Rev. P. W. Baldwin. Mr. John Jackson was married to Mrs. Susan Neal”.

The church is still in use and is part of the Anglican Parish of Furneaux Island.

Photo: Google images



Sources:

Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 30 June 1915, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Monday 6 December 1920, page 6
Mercury, Tuesday 28 June 1921, page 5
Examiner, Saturday 9 May 1925, page 7
Examiner, Tuesday 14 July 1925, page 6
Mercury, Saturday 29 May 1943, page 15

Henslowe, Dorothea I and Hurburgh, Isa. Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania / by Dorothea I. Henslowe ; sketches by Isa Hurburgh, 1978 

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