Welcome to the Anglican Churches of:St Paul's Port Adelaide
St George's Alberton
Ministry Team: Parish Priest:: Rev'd John Stephenson 0438 116 710 stephenson4643@internode.on.net Parish Leadership: St George's (Alberton) St Paul's (Port Adelaide)
FOR AN INSIDE GLIMPSE AT OUR PARISH LIFE AT ST. PAUL'S HAVE A LOOK AT OUR RECENT |
An Historical Overview of St Paul's (Port Adelaide)When the first settlers landed at Port Adelaide in 1836 there was no wharf or slipway to help with disembarkation, rather all - including many people - had to be floated or carried from ship to shore. Close to a popular transfer point stood the rustic 'Union Hall' made from rough cut posts and boards, which served the local community. As the little township of Port Adelaide grew and flourished, this hall was used for worship by Anglicans and other Protestant churches. However by 1840, sheds on the new wharf (now No.2 Berth on McLaren Wharf) better served public worship - only to emphasise that proper church buildings were sorely needed. A princely sum of 1,000 pounds was collected and a new church soon arose from the local mangroves and sand-dunes.
Captain Sturt drove the first pile for what was to become the first church of the settlement(about where St Paul's Parish Hall stands today) facing the Birkenhead Bridge. Given the range of the local tidal waters, the need for piles soon became clear as worshippers sometimes needed to leave the church steps in rowboats. The sketch above is about all that remains of the likeness of the first St Paul's in The Port. The little church was made with used timber and calico dressing, seated at most 100 people, and was consecrated for worship on 15th May 1841 by Chaplain Charles Beaumont Howard. By 1851, this fledgling, tottering church had weathered its last storm and collapsed.
A new stone St Paul's church was built the following year directly in front of the old wooden one, where the modern church stands today. But despite landfill and packing, the stone structure had foundation problems because it was subject to tidal flooding and sand movement. A sort of barge remained at the church door to carry away worshippers during king tides. The church bell, from the impounded Ville De Bordeaux whaler, called the faithful to Anglican services for the next 50 years of the colony's life and times. But in 1904 it was demolished in the vanguard of today's brick church which was built on a sure foundation grounded with already 65 years of Anglican worship in The Port.
The existing St Paul's was built at the wish and expense of Mr Samuel Tyzack in 1905. Samuel, son of William Tyzack (a shipwright of Port Adelaide), was baptised in the second church but sometime thereafter returned to England. After inheriting a wealthy estate and hearing that the second St Paul's was structurally moribund, he donated 4,000 pounds to build a new church which English and Soward designed and Walter Charles Torode built. The foundation stone was laid on 13th May 1905 by Mrs Mary Ann McFarlane, daughter of the late William Tyzack, and opened on "All Saints Day", 1 November 1905. A war memorial portico was added to the front of the church after the First World War. Several of Samuel Tyzack's and Mary Ann McFarlane's decendents live around and about The Port, and some still worship at St Paul's today.
Two of the special internal features of St Paul's includes the stained glass window and the church organ. The windows, an additional donation from Samuel Tyzack, are by the Percy Bacon Brothers of London (as shown above).
The church organ was built in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk England by William Christmas Mack and imported in 1865. It was enlarged by Fincham and Hobday in 1887 and further modified in 1905, presumably upon its relocation to the new church. It has a twin in St Edmund's Church Wembley, Western Australia, but besides there are no other like instruments in Australia. Although about 30 years ago the organ pipes were whitewashed because their ornate decoration was deemed to be a distraction from the sacramental liturgy, more recently they were repainted as near as possible to the original design. Organ recitals are still frequently held today, so this magnificant instrument can be enjoyed by all.
St George's (Alberton)
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WorshipSundayAlberton:8:30 am Sung Eucharist with Children's MinistryPort Adelaide:10:15 am Sung Eucharist with Children's Ministry6:00 pm Youth Worship
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- Last edited 11 MArch 2011