Woodend, VIC - St Mary's Anglican
Year Built: 1864
Denomination: Anglican
Saint: Mary
Address: 15 Buckland Street, Woodend, Victoria, 3442
Architect: Stuart Murray
Traditional Owners: Dja Dja Wurrung people
Last Updated: 18/03/2023
Click on the image to view larger (3 photos)
History and Architecture:
In 1864 a decision was made to replace the old wooden Church building with a more substantial bluestone building built in the Gothic Revival style. It was to be constructed of stone with walls 2 foot thick. Purvis and Co were the builders at a cost of £370.
The roof of is vaulted utilising a simple King Post system. There are three principal rafters and no ' common rafters.' The external roof of St. Mary's is covered with slate. A tower was added in 1898, then the vestry in 1903 and finally the second taller tower, known as the 'Peace Tower', in 1929.
The original church hall was destroyed by fire in 2008. The Norma Richardson Hall was built in keeping with heritage guidelines and was opened on 12 August 2012.
A Foundation stone reads, "A.M.D.G, This church was built in 1864 and was completed in 1929. Rector Rev Canon W A Poulton RD Bishop Right Rev Donald Baker DD".
A second stone reads, "This tower was consecrated on 28th Sept 1941. By Rt Rev G T Ashton D.D. Rector Rev G R Miles ThL".
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 - | Rev C. S. Perry | Asst | ||
| 1860 - 1860 | Rev John Barlow | |||
| 1860 - 1861 | Rev Middleton | |||
| 1861 - 1866 | Mr G. W. Kelly | Lay Reader | ||
| 1866 - 1868 | Rev Arthur William Creswell | 1839 | 1915 | |
| 1868 - 1870 | Mr W. I. Booth | Lay Reader | ||
| 1871 - 1874 | Mr Craig | Lay Reader | ||
| 1874 - 1875 | Mr Branswick | Lay Reader | ||
| 1876 - 1877 | Mr Henry Lodge | Lay Reader | ||
| 1877 - 1878 | Rev Dean | |||
| 1878 - 1891 | Rev Joseph Allen | 1849 | 1926 | |
| 1891 - 1895 | Rev Charles Edward Drought | 1847 | 1917 | |
| 1895 - 1897 | Rev Richard Harry Potter | 1861 | 1931 | |
| 1897 - 1902 | Rev Henry Finter | 1845 | 1923 | |
| 1902 - 1912 | Rev Francis Vanston | 1861 | 1956 | |
| 1913 - 1931 | Canon William Alfred Poulton | 1866 | 1934 | |
| 1930 - 1930 | Rev Harry George Mathews | Locum | 1871 | 1951 |
| 1931 - 1933 | Rev Frederick Edward Henry Tolhurst | 1895 | 1957 | |
| 1933 - 1937 | Rev Hedley Grandville White | 1882 | 1961 | |
| 1937 - 1944 | Rev Charles Reginald Miles | 1899 | 1986 | |
| 1944 - 1948 | Rev George Thexton Morphet | 1912 | 2000 | |
| 1948 - 1956 | Rev William Tasman Regnier | 1906 | 1969 | |
| 1956 - 1964 | Rev Geginald Thomas Fabian | 1906 | 1993 | |
| 1964 - 1970 | Rev Alf Austin | |||
| 1970 - 1973 | Rev Graham Holly | |||
| 1974 - 1976 | Rev Gordon Dent | |||
| 1976 - 1978 | Rev Alex Stone | |||
| 1978 - 1980 | Rev Geoffrey Stephenson | |||
| 1981 - 1984 | Rev Phillip Salvin | |||
| 1984 - 1985 | Rev John Sapdford | Locum | ||
| 1985 - 1990 | Rev Ron White | |||
| 1990 - 1992 | Rev Reg Farnell | |||
| 1992 - 1997 | Rev Mark Jacka | |||
| 1998 - | Rev Laurie McIntyre | |||
| 1998 - 2000 | Rev Colin Tett | |||
| 2000 - | Bishop John Stewart |
Organ:
The first Organ was an harmonium aquired in December 1861. Then in 1911 came a Spencer Organ. Finally in 1996 a Viscount Digital Organ was offered by Thomas Heywood for the Spencer Organ.
Source:
1. Walls Two Feet Thick The Story of St Mary's Church Woodend Janet Hawkins. LH 994.53 HAW
2. Cable Clerical Index with permission.
3. Church website.