All the Company of Heaven

 

A Guide to the

Church of St Michael and All Angels

Beaumaris

 

Rev. R. Wesley Hartley

Beaumaris 1991

(with later additions)

 

INTRODUCTION

Immediately after World War II Beaumaris was mainly tea tree scrub with unmade sandy tracks joining a few scattered houses. Then the baby-boomers arrived, accompanied by their parents, and development of Beaumaris proceeded rapidly. Ecclesiastically, Beaumaris was in the Parish of Cheltenham.

'I'here are various reports of spasmodic church activity in the Beaumaris area from as early as 1918, but a continuous history starts in 1947. In that year a Sunday School began in Talbot House, Cromer Road (home of Mr Martin). In 1951 regular services began in Clive and Linda Gleadell's garage at 11 Rennison Street and the Sunday School transferred there. The growing population during the 1950s meant that the garage was inadequate and larger premises were needed.

The church owned land in Dalgetty Road between Bodley Street and Martin Street. This had been bought by the Diocese of Melbourne in 1914. In the centre of this site a church hall, designed by the noted church architect Louis Williams, was built in 1952. But this too was soon outgrown and extensions were added in 1957, the architect being Jeffrey Jones. The original church is now usually known as the "small hall" and the 1957 extensions as the "large hall".

Consolidation during this period enabled the formation of the Parish of Beaumaris in 1960 and plans were made for the building of a parish church. The firm of Mockridge, Stable and Mitchell was engaged as architects for the new church of St Michael and All Angels. John Mockridge was responsible for the design concept and construction was supervised by Greville Gowty. Hardcastle and Richards were honorary consulting engineers and the builder was C.D.Mason Pty. Ltd.

The building is of cement-brick with asbestos shingle roof. Interior dimensions are 26.5 m east to west and 20 m north to south across the transepts. The height at the centre of the nave is 7.9 m. The roof dimensions (including the wide eaves) are 37.8 m east to west and 31.7 m north to south. The outside height of the east wall is 10.7 m. The Lady Chapel is located in the north transept and the choir and organ occupy the south transept. Ancillary rooms in the north-east of the building originally consisted of men's and women's choir vestries, the Vicar's vestry, flower-arranging room and Wardens' room.

The interior of the church is austere, but the large expanses of grey cement-brick wall allow the timber surfaces to be highlighted. There is a sense of spaciousness and light. The soaring cross-over arches of laminated wood, the dominating feature of the nave, give a feeling of height, while the floor area is generally uncluttered. Above both the high altar and the Lady Chapel altar are dome skylights, which allow the entry of light to draw attention to these places even when the building is not artificially lit.

Since its dedication in 1966 stained glass windows have been installed in the church: in the west wall of the Lady Chapel and the south wall of the sanctuary. To meet the changing needs some alterations were made to the building in 1989. The narthex was extended into the nave to provide more space for morning tea following services and for small meetings; carpet was laid throughout the narthex, nave, Lady Chapel, sanctuary and choir; gas space heaters were installed to replace the previous underseat electric heaters. Alterations were made to the ancillary rooms so that: the women's choir vestry became the Vicar's vestry; the men's chioir vestry became a meeting room; the Vicar's vestry became a kitchen and the wall between this room and the flower arranging room was removed.

This booklet is a guide to the church building as a place of worsliip, a place where people meet God. It also notes some of the architectural features and records those who, in various ways, are remembered within its walls. It is hoped that this guide might help both members of the congregation and visitors to appreciate this building in such a way that it leads them to renewed encounter with God.

 

A TOUR OF THE CHURCH

(Numbers in square brackets refer to the Reference Plan.)

The NARTHEX [2) is entered through doors facing the north. The narthex is a gathering place where people meet before and after worship.

In the narthex are plaques recording the names of Vicars and some information about the church.

                                                                      * later became Archbishop of Melbourne (1977-1983)
 

 

From the nartliex the tour leads into the NAVE [4]. Looking east through the soaritig cross-over arches the eye travels immediately to the high altar and the cross on the cast wall. The red lamp burning in the sanctuary is a reminder that God is ever-present.

Above the doors leading into the nave are two carved wooden angels. 'These previously surmounted the riddel posts of the altar in the original church. There is a plaque:
In memory of Flight Lieutenant Thomas Guy Evans. Killed in action 23-1-43
Immediately inside the west doors of the nave is the BAPTISTERY [3]. The place of baptism is at the entrance to the church to symbolise our entry into the Church, the body of Christ, in the sacrament of baptism.

The octagonal wooden font is from the original church. It has the carved inscription: "Suffer the little children to come unto me." (Mark 10: 14 AV). There is a plaque:
In loving memory of B. Webb Langdon. Died 21-6-48
The stand for the Easter Candle was carved by Kenneth Raff (son of the Vicar).

Proceeding along the north aisle one comes to the north transept in which is located the LADY CHAPEL [5], so named because it is dedicated in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The sacrament is reserved in this chapel (in the aumbrey set in the west wall). This is indicated by the white lamp burning in the chapel.

In the west wall of the chapel is a stained glass window. It was installed in 1983 and is in memory of Florence Edith Rigg.

Beneath the window are three plaques:

William Lee Murrell 26 Feb 1893 to 2 Sept 1971

Francis Henry Williams 29 Jan 1905 to 25 June 1977

F. Geoffrey Francis 26 Jan 1913 to 22 Feb 1973

To the right is a niche in which is set a wooden statue of Madonna and Child (the Blessed Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus) carved by Leopoldine Mimovich.

The altar in the Lady Chapel is from the original church. It bears a plaque:
In loving memory of Lieutenant Colonel William Walter Tracy, MBE. Died 31-8-5 1.

The brass cross and candlesticks, also from the original church, are inscribed:

In memory of Charlotte E.H. Gleadell. Died 29-9-1945

In memory of William W. Gleadell. Died 17-2-1950

In memory of Ada Gleadell. Died 22-5-1920

The upholstered wooden chairs on either side of the altar came from the home of George Kinnear (rope manufacturer) of Essendon. Their earlier history is not known.

On the east wall of the Lady Chapel is a relief carving of the Holy Family carved by Leopoldine Mimovich. Beneath it is a plaque:
E. Josephine Bamford. 1Mar 1895 to 18 Jun 1980

Continuing the tour one proceeds south to the SANCTUARY [6]. This is the focal point for the celebration of the eucharist.

Within the sanctuary and elsewhere in the church are stands for flowers made from the riddel posts of the altar in the original church.

The lectern, also from the original church, features a carved wooden eagle. It is the place for the reading of the Bible and preaching (the church does not have a pulpit). The lectern has a plaque:
In memory of the Rev. T.J. Redhead, died 6-1-36, and Lieutenant F.A. Redhead, killed in action on Balikpapan 6-7-45 aged 24 years.

On the wall behind the lectern is a wooden crucifix carved by Hans Knorr. The crucifix near the place for preaching recalls St Paul's declaration to the Corinthians:

"We preach Christ crucified." (1 Corinthians 1: 23).

In the north wall of the sanctuary is set a piece of marble with gilded leaf decoration. It is from the high altar that was installed in St Paul's Cathedral London in 1888. It has a plaque:
This piece of marble is part of the High Altar of St Paul's Cathedral London which was destroyed by a high explosive bomb on the morning of June 10th 1940.

The Bishop's chair stands on the north side of the sanctuary and is reserved for him even when he is not present for he is the chief pastor and focus of unity of the diocese and our link with the universal Church.

The cross on the east wall of the sanctuary is of unusual proportions. The horizontal bar measures 2.4 m compared with the vertical bar which is 2.2 m. They intersect 320 mm from the top. The cross has this central position in the church to show that Christ, crucified and risen, is the focus of our worship and prayer.

The high altar, made of wood, is the work of John Manson, a parishioner.

The stained glass window in the south wall of the sanctuary is the work of Len Kossatz and was installed in 1972. Beneath the window is a plaque:
Annie Tracy 1864-1970

The white frontal for the high altar copies the design of this window. The embroidery on the frontal is the work of Sister Maree, CHN.

The Vicar's stall, from the original church, has a plaque:
In loving memory of Alfred C.E. Smith. Died 21/12/53

From the sanctuary the tour proceeds to the south transept, which is occupied by the CHOIR and organ [7].

Set in the east wall of the transept is a glass cabinet containing a book in which is recorded the names of those whose ashes have been interred in the Memorial Garden. Above it is a plaque:
The Memorial Garden. Cabinet and Book in loving memory of Anne Forbes 1901-1988.
The gift of her family 1989.

In the midst of the choir is the digital computer organ, built by the Allen Organ Co. of Philadelphia, USA. It was installed in 1981 and the case is in American walnut. The organ is in memory of Frederick Arthur Avery and Mavis Courtney Avery.

The tour of the interior of the church concludes by continuing along the south aisle and out through the narthex.

Between the church and the large hall is the camellia garden. In the garden is a pine cross and each camellia bush has been planted in memory of some person. The names are recorded in a book. Adjacent to the garden is the flag pole from which flies the flag of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Outside the west end of the church is the BELL [8]. The bell was cast by the George Adams Foundry in 1951 from about 20 washing coppers donated by parishioners. It first hung on a children's swing at 11 Rennison Street when services were held there. When the original church was built it was hung on a tree near the church. The bell summons the faithful to church, tolls the dead and announces the newly married as well as witnessing to the community that here prayer is being offered.

Walking around the outside of the church to the south-east corner the tour comes to the MEMORIAL GARDEN [9]. The garden is for the interment of the ashes of the deceased. Names of those interred are recorded in the book kept in the cabinet in the south transept.

Against the east wall of the church stands the great wooden CROSS [10]. Standing some 15 m high, it is visible for quite a distance around.

To the north of the church are the large hall and small hall (original church). Near the entrance porch of the original church is set a stone with the inscription:
 
 

Other memorials, not seen on the tour, are:

A lectern Bible (Revised Version), inscribed on the fly leaf-.
Saint Michael and All Angels Church Beaunaris. In memory of Mabel Hannah Warner, who died on the Twelfth of November 1956. For many years she worshipped at Saint Winfrid's Church, Testwood, England. 15th June 1958.

A gold chalice and paten, inscribed:

In memory of Joan R. Brock. 27-4-1984.

The original chalice and patten were stolen and identical replacements made. The replacements were dedicated in 1990.

 

EMBLEM OF ST MICHAEL

The parish uses the emblem of St Michael fighting the seven-headed dragon (see Revelation 12). The emblem is similar to one used by Coventry Cathedral in England, differenced by the omission, in the Beaumaris version, of the Coventry nails. Permission to use the differenced version of the emblem was given to the Parish of Beaumaris by the Provost and Chapter of Coventry Cathedral in 1987.