Miranda, NSW - St Luke's Anglican

History and Architecture:

Archbishop William Saumarez Smith laid the foundation stone on Saturday 6th May, 1899 for a new Anglican Church in Miranda. The small weatherboard building served the people of Miranda for more than seventy years. In May, 1970, to pave the way for the next stage of growth for St Luke’s, the Reverend Keith Gowan laid the foundation stone for a new church building.

An article in the St Georges Advocate (Rockdale, NSW : 1899 - 1903) Sat 13 May 1899 reads, "On Saturday last, His Lordship, the Archbishop of Sydney, laid the foundation stone of a new Church of England at Miranda. The site chosen is on the brow of the hill just beyond the Congregational Church, and it has a splendid lookout over the waters of Botany Bay, and George's River, Kurnell and the north and south heads of Botany Bay being seen in the distance. There was a very nice gathering of residents, and a bower was erected in which was laid out an afternoon tea".

A Foundation plaque reads, " To the Glory of God the Foundation stone of the new church of St Luke Miranda was set by The Rt Rev G.R. Delbridge Bishop of Wollongong 31-5-70".

A further wall plaque reads, " This Church was consecrated by the Archbishop of Sydney The Most Reverend Sir Marcus Loane D.D. K.B.E. 20th March 1977. A cylinder containing old church records was placed in the ground by the Archbishop This marks the completion of a project begun as a result of the faith and vision of the late Rev Keith Gowan Pastor 1968 - 1974".

A third wall plaque reads, " To the Glory of God this Church was opened and dedicated by the Most Reverend M.L. Loane M.A. D.D. Archbishop of Sydney 21-3-1971 W.N. Chapple G.J. Nedwich L.F. Pritchard Wardens The Reverend Keith Gowan Rector".