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| 1646: St Thomas,
Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia |
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Mystery Worshipper:
Mr Cantata.
The church:
St
Thomas, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
Denomination:
Anglican
Church of Australia, Diocese
of Grafton.
The building:
A historic convict and soldier built church sitting high on
a hill overlooking the settlement of Port Macquarie. The foundation
stone was laid in 1824 and the first service held in 1828. It
is a plain looking rectangular brick building with a square
tower, to which a clock was added in 1976. The shingle roof
was replaced by corrugated iron in 1883, and by terra cotta
tiles in 1923. The original floor was of rammed earth, but nine-inch
paving bricks were laid in 1846 and box pews were installed,
for which parishioners paid rent. The pews survive to this day,
although pew rents were abolished in 1905. The interior of the
church is a testament to the pride of workmanship of local artisans
– intricately carved wooden pulpit, rostrum, stairways and
altar rail complemented by needlepointed cushions which are
now being restored by the ladies of the parish. A splendid stained
glass window of St Thomas the Apostle was gifted in 1906. Upstairs
is a muniments room containing historic documents, photographs,
records, old Bibles and prayer books, and vintage musical instruments.
The church:
This is a very active parish. They sponsor dozens of spiritual,
social and charitable groups all enumerated on their website.
Worthy of special mention are growth groups – small gatherings
that meet in people's homes for Bible study, mutual support
and fellowship, prayer, healing, etc. They celebrate traditional
holy communion in the church each Sunday at 8.00am, and a contemporary
family service in the parish hall (which they call the worship
centre) at 10.00am.
The neighbourhood:
Port Macquarie, founded as a penal colony in 1821, was the second
such settlement outside of Sydney. The region was opened to
all in 1830, and soon prospered thanks to its good pastoral
land, timber resources and fisheries. Although it sits on New
South Wales' mid-north coast, the town never gained maritime
importance due to treacherous coastal bars. Today Port Macquarie
is a popular retirement location and tourist destination, known
for its extensive beaches and waterways. In recent times, tensions
have arisen between real estate developers and local residents
wishing to preserve historic structures and trees.
The cast:
The Revd Canon Dr John Barrett, acting rector, presided.
The date & time:
Sunday, 9 November 2008, 8.00am.
What was the name of the service?
Holy Communion.
How full was the building?
Around 80 people entered the high back stalls in the nave. This
was my first experience being in an enclosed personal worship
space within a church building. There may have been more than
80 people if one included the short ladies and hidden children.
Did anyone welcome you personally?
This is the first church where I have received a hug and a kiss
at the door from an unknown welcomer. I truly believe the old
girl at the door was really excited to have me there. Being
one of the few younger people in the building, I suspect that
I gave her quite a start!
Was your pew comfortable?
No. Extra padding on the seat added little to the straight back
and harshness of the high back pew. It was a novelty for awhile,
but soon became uncomfortable.
How would you describe the pre-service
atmosphere?
Chatty.
What were the exact opening words of the
service?
"Please stand and sing hymn 498 from Mission Praise."
What books did the congregation use during the
service?
Each box included a complimentary Holy Bible for the occupants'
reading pleasure. A copy of An Australian Prayer Book
was provided at the door, along with a copy of Mission Praise
(my least favourite hymnal – ugh!).
What musical instruments
were played?
An historic 1856 mechanical action Walker barrel organ, the
only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere. It was played
by what would best be classified as a reluctant organist. In
this case a very reluctant organist. Two of the locals sitting
in front of me commented on the quality of the music performance.
Did anything distract
you?
Being a visitor to the parish, I was distracted by the historical
aspects of the building. I had attended a local Masonic function
on the previous evening and was heartened to see that the main
window, depicting St Thomas, included a square and compasses,
perhaps the single most identifiable symbol of Freemasonry.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
The service was efficient evangelical style – the clergy wore robes.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
24 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
6 – The startling high pulpit would have provided any preacher
with a case of vertigo. The sermon did not follow the readings
for the day, but instead was based on material found in the
popular series known as the Samuel Bible Studies. I
felt that the preacher dwelt too heavily on fear – fear
that if we do not undertake some immediate action in our lives,
the consequence will be disaster.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon
about?
The faithfulness of God's servants.
Which part of the service was like being in
heaven?
Getting a hug at the door from the welcomer – this was the
first time that I have experienced such joy. Whilst confronting,
it nevertheless gave me the sense of being very welcome in the
church.
And which part was like being in... er... the other place?
Reading the newsletter and seeing that there had been "satanic desecration" in the cemetery and church grounds. I query the use of the term "satanic" and was really embarrassed that a church would dwell upon this fear.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost?
A little bit of a chat from the preacher and a couple of the parishioners.
How would you describe the after-service
coffee?
Absolutely no invitation to have a cup of coffee, no announcement
that coffee was available. I ended up at the local McDonalds
with a breakfast muffin and a glass of orange juice.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
2 – I think I'd be better off as a closet Anglican in the
Catholic parish across the road than a member of this congregation.
It was just not my cup of tea. Good on them if they can find
people who like to have fear preached to them.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a
Christian?
No.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The wonderful east window of St Thomas with the square and compasses. |
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| The Mystery Pilgrim |
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| One of our most seasoned reporters makes the Camino pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Read here. |
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