ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN
CHURCH, BALLIANG
St
George’s church was established within the Anglican Parish of Lara
soon after Balliang became more closely settled. After much hard work
by a building committee and the designer, Mr Frank Lee, Archbishop
Henry Lowther Clarke of Melbourne (4th Bishop and 1st
Archbishop), dedicated the church building on 3 July 1912
before a congregation of 70 persons.
The
building is in the Early English Gothic style constructed of timber
stud walls and an iron roof. It stands on a 1 acre (0.4ha) allotment
purchased in March, 1910. Mr Lee was asked to replicate the design of
Anakie C of E.
The
Bacchus Marsh Express of 13 July described the church as having a
distinctly different appearance to that of today:
“Gothic
pointed windows and Gothic filling to its four gables, give it a
decidedly ecclesiastical appearance, and the outside walls being
painted a dark blue, with white trimmings, have a solid appearance.
Inside it is lined with narrow boarding, with a dado of Indian red,
the upper half a terra cotta, and the ceiling varnished the wood’s
natural colour. Two principals, with heavy brackets, showing below
the ceiling, are stained oak and varnished.”
The
minutes of the first meeting of the congregation held in the school
on July 6, 1912 and chaired by the vicar of Lara, Rev Fowler, record
that the building fund had a debt of £230/15/3.
The
meeting elected: Mr F Lee as Vicar’s Warden;
Mr A Coe and Mr O Burgess as
People’s Wardens;
Messrs C W Bird, E H Prime, W
Vanstan and C Best as Vestrymen,
Mr A E Whinfield and Mrs H
Bissell as Auditors.
Development
of the Church
What
was perhaps the first ‘working bee’ to be held in the district
was organised at 2.00 p.m. on 19 July 1913 for the purpose of
beginning the erection of a fence around the Church grounds! A vote
of thanks to Mr R Fry for his work erecting the fence at the front of
Church was passed at the annual meeting in 1919, six years later –
so it took quite a time to finish things in those days!
The
vestry bought the oil lamps hanging in the nave of the church in 1920
at a cost of £3/8/-, and a further Alladin lamp was bought to
hang in the chancel in 1925 for £6/2/6.
In
May 1921 the vestry requested the secretary, Mr E H Prime, to write
to the Macedon nursery regarding trees to be planted in the church
grounds. A list of botanical names, perhaps these trees, appears in
the back of the first service book. Some replacement trees were
planted in October 1921 and dedicated to the memory of Mr Nathan
Clark, the father of Mrs E H Prime.
A
communion table (altar) was bought in 1924 at a cost of £10/17/6
to replace one previously loaned by Mr Lee. This has been loaned
to Holy Trinity, Bacchus Marsh and the present altar which is more in
the style of the other furniture came from the Anakie Anglican Church
(now deconsecrated).
The
stained glass window in the north wall of the chancel was donated by
Mrs Prime in 1925, the same year that the first special Anzac service
was held in the church on 26 April.
The
kneelers were made by Mr G Fry in 1926, and curtains at the back, the
original chancel carpet (since replaced) and the vestry cupboard were
purchased in the same year. Vestry purchased the large wooden cross
on the east wall of the sanctuary from B E Purnell in 1958, and Mr J
T Fry donated the pedestal for flowers in 1959.
Recent
changes
In
1980, the rapidly growing Parish of Lara became two parishes, one
based on Lara and Little River (Lara), the other on Corio, Anakie and
Balliang (Corio). However the rapid growth in the southern part of
the Corio parish during the 1980’s and the distances between the
centres lead a further change in parish boundaries. In 1991 St
George’s became part of the Parish of Bacchus Marsh to which it was
geographically closer and with which it had greater community
associations.
An
official changeover service was held in March 1993 with Bishop John
Bayton, Revd Geoff Traill (Vicar of Corio) and Rev’d Graeme Perkins
(Vicar of Bacchus Marsh) officiating. The Bishop planted a
commemorative Ironbark tree near the front boundary of the church
after the service.
A
new building to meet our need for a meeting room and toilets was
moved to the church grounds in 2009. Bishop Philip Huggins blessed
the building after a St George’s Day Patronal Celebration Service.
75th
Anniversary
The
75th anniversary year of 1987 was one of ‘enlightenment’
and greater comfort for St George’s! In that year the electricity
was first connected to the church (after an abandoned move in 1960)
and carpets were laid throughout. Celebrations during the year
included a service of switching on the lights led by Bishop David
Shand and a special anniversary service and function attended by many
former and current residents of the district. Special anniversary
spoons were made and have become quite a collector’s item! Do you
have one?
Community
Celebrations
In
November 1998, a Thanksgiving Service for the 90th
Anniversary of the Balliang District was held as part of the
community celebrations. Over 130 present and former residents
attended the service led by Rev Roy Gabb (Assistant Priest in Bacchus
Marsh) with Rev Liz Bufton (resident in Staughton Vale) preaching.
After
the bushfires in the Brisbane Ranges and Balliang in January 2006,
which affected many members of the community, a Service of
Thanksgiving was held on 12 February. Bishop Paul White and the Rev
Darrell Couch (Vicar) led a congregation of 45 in prayer.
A
Service of Thanksgiving for the Balliang Centenary was held on 2
November 2008. Rev Darrell Couch (Vicar) led the service and Rev Liz
Bufton preached the sermon. Ninety present and former residents of
Balliang attended.
Service
by Balliang families
Many
local families have served the Church over the years, and names such
as Fry, Bissell, Vanstan, Prime, Griffiths, Dukelow, Davis, Beggs,
Wilkie, Bird, Gilmore, Heath and Craig appear regularly over long
periods.
Some
long contributions of service to St George’s Church noted in the
minute books include:
44
years as Churchwarden and Vestryman by each of Mr E H Prime (1912 –
1956), Mr E W Vanstan (1917 – 1961) and Mr C E Fry (1930 –
1974),
28
years as Secretary/Treasurer by Mr H Bissell (1924 - 1952),
35
years as Auditor by Mr Phillip Prime (1961 – 1996),
40
years as Vestryman, Warden and Secretary by Mr Ian Heath (1960
-2000)
Parish
records
The
Parish of Bacchus Marsh, of which St George’s is now part, retains
the records of all parish services and meetings which survived the
Lara bushfire in 1969. Some interesting dates extracted from those
records is summarised below. The records contained in these books are
probably not complete eg marriages seem to have been recorded in
other documents not kept at the church.
You
may find that these records contain historical records of your family
or friends. Please contact the organising committee if you would like
to see if more information is available.
MARRIAGES
WHEN
|
WHO
|
1913 22
October
25
October
1930 5
September
1947 15
February
1978 7
October
1982 27
June
2006 25
March
|
John
Charles Davie and Fanny Bissell
William Thomas Beggs and
Elizabeth May Smith
Robert
Roberts and Bertha Rose Davis
Herbert
Tucker and Audrey Vanstan
Malcolm
Philip Gilmore and Lee Patricia Burridge
Robert
Brent Davie and Juliana Kaya Prtic
Christopher
John Sharkey and Kate Robinson
|
other events-1
other events-1
BAPTISMS
WHEN1913 9 November
1915 28
February
1915
1916 22
October
31
December
1917 1
April
15 April
1920 7
March
3 October
1922
1924 13
April
1926 12
September
1927
1932
1935
1940
16
June
11 August
1942 4
October
1945 30
September
1950 26 July 1953 19 April1953 7
February
3 October
1955 17 April
1957 24 November
1958 2
February
2 March
20 July
23 November
1961
1962
1973 27 January
25
March
1 April
8 April
18 August
7
September
17
October
21 October
7 November
9
November
1980 8
June
1981 14 February 10
May
22 May
12 September
1985 31
March
3
November
1986 27
April
1990 28
January
28
August
1 September1994 9
January
1998 14
June
2002 14
July
2007 28
October
2008 26
October
|
WHOEllen Coe
Edith May
Bissell
Edna May
Beggs
William
Joseph Beggs, Alma Adelaide Bissell
? three
baptisms
Georgina
May Peters and Lloyd George Peters
Mavis
Martha Bissell
Len Peters
Emily Jane
Dukelow
Kenneth
Beggs
William
Robert Vanstan
Audrey
Vanstan
Audrey
Beggs
Lawrence
Beggs
Jennifer
Anne Griffiths
Valda
Elizabeth Griffiths
Jeffrey
Laurence Young
Lois E
Wilkie
Diana Jean
Dugdale
Glenda
Marjorie Wilkie
Roger John
Charles Gilmore and Gregor Malcolm Gilmore Lindsay
John Vanstan (at Sunday School)
Gregory
Wakely
Reginald
Peter Bird
Malcolm
Philip Gilmore, Philip Tucker
Lesley Ann
Beggs
Shirley
Margaret Beggs
Donald
William Vanstan
Graeme
Rodney Beggs
Leanne
Vanstan and Rosalind Tucker
Malcolm
Hunt
Ashley
Hunt
Glenn William Towan Adam
Christopher Bird
Vicki Maureen Craig Natalie
Margaret Ward
Darren
John Craig
Rachael
Elizabeth Bufton
Malcolm
David Craig
Melinda Kim Bufton Russell
Andrew Heath
Wayne
Steven Heath
James
Robert Peter Mar
Cherry Ellen Moodie Claire Cowley, Tim Stokes Susan Ann Heath Bradley
James Stokes
Ross
Moodie
Amanda
Jane Heath
David
Joseph John Penny
Michael
Alexander Jochum
Samuel Douglas Vanstan Thomas
George Vanstan
Tinonie
Alice (Mar)
Anna
Margaret Vanstan
Harry
Bufton
Charlie
William Creek
Jack
William Sharkey
|
WHEN
|
WHAT
HAPPENED
|
1912 3
July
1913 21
March
1916 2
January
1916 22
October
1918 17
November
1919 2
March
20 April 20 July
1920 7
March
4 July
1924 15
August
1926 18
July
1 August
1927 19
January
1929 13
January
1929 14
July
1933 9
July
1935 23
June
1936 5
January
2
February
1937 9 May
1937 10
October
1938 3
June
1940 7
April
4
April
1943 21
February
1943 4
April
1944 17
September
1945 21
January
4 March
15 April
13 May
19 August
1949 9
October
1950 10
September
1952 February
1953 15
May
5
August
1958 28
September
1960 31
January
1960 4
December
1962 11
February
15
July
1969 3
August
1973 1
March
1986 13
April
1987 14
April
12 July
1990 17
March
1997 2
February
1998 15
November
2006 12
February
2008 1
February
4
February
2008 2
November
2009 26
April
|
Dedication
of the Church by Abp H L Clarke
“Story
of the Cross” sung (Good Friday); solos by Mrs Prime & Mr
Vanstan Intercessions
in connection with the War
Farewell
to Rev H Fowler
Thanksgiving
for victory in the War
Dedication
of the font - a gift of Mrs Burgess Dedication
of the lectern - a gift of Messrs Lee and C Beggs
Holy
Vessels first used - a gift of Mrs Edols
Memorial
service for W Vanstan
Memorial
service for Mr Richard Fry (dec 17/2/20)
Memorial
service for Mr Clarke and Mrs Bissell
Confirmation
of 15 candidates by Bishop Green of Ballaarat incl Myrtle Davis,
Bertha Davis, Nancy Prime, Betty Prime, Lon Davis and Tom Davis
Services
celebrating the fourteenth anniversary of the dedication of St
George’s church
Funeral of
Mr F Lee
Confirmation
(at Lara) of Ellen Coe, Jack Coe, Edna May Davis, Herbert Victor
Davis, Norman Francis Davis, Philip Prime, Christina Vanstan by
Archbishop Lees
Memorial
Service for Archbishop Lees
Thanksgiving
for King’s recovery
Memorial
service for Mr S C Bird Sr
Memorial
service for Mr Dukelow
Memorial
service for Lloyd Peters
Memorial
service for King George V
Celebration
of Coronation of King George VI
Memorial
service for Mr T Beggs
Memorial
service for Mrs Bird Snr
Memorial
Service for Mrs M E Lee
Memorial
service for Mr S Bird
Visit by
Archbishop Booth of Melbourne
Memorial
service for Mr S Bird
Last
service taken by Rev Perry
Memorial
service for Florence May Fry
Sunday
School commenced under Mrs C W Bird
Geelong G
S choir sang at Harvest Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
for Victory over Germany
Thanksgiving
for Victory over Japan
Vases
(brass?) dedicated to memory of Florence May Fry
Presentation
to Organist, Mr Prime
Burial of
Mr H Bissell
Memorial
service for Mrs J F Fry
Youth
service – lessons read by Barbara Vanstan and Peter Griffiths
First
“Back to Balliang “ service
Farewell
to Vicar, Rev R Butters
Farewell
presentation to Mr & Mrs E W Vanstan
Sunday
School started under Mr Brockenshire and Beverley Craig
Jubilee
celebrations of the Church opening – Attendance 70
Special
collection taken for the rebuilding of the church at Lara
St
George’s forms part of the new Parish of Corio (with Corio and
Anakie) – Vicar, Rev Mick Potter
First
Blessing the Plough Service – Vicar, Rev Howard Langmead
Electricity
connected for the first time to St Georges – lights switched on
by Bishop David Shand, Bishop in Geelong
75
Anniversary of St George’s Thanksgiving with Bishop David Shand
and 170 residents and visitors; new wooden candlesticks blessed.
St
George’s becomes part of Parish of Bacchus Marsh (with Bacchus
Marsh and Myrniong). Bishop John Bayton planted a tree (an
ironbark) commemorating the occasion near the Church noticeboard.
Rev Geoff Traill hands over to Rev Graham Perkins.
Farewell
to Audrey Tucker
Thanksgiving
Service for 90 years of settlement of Balliang District
Service of
Thanksgiving – Brisbane Ranges Bushfire
Memorial
Service for Betty Griffiths
Funeral of
Elsie Bown
Celebration
of Thanksgiving for Balliang Centenary
Patronal
Festival and Blessing of the new relocated meeting rooms by Bp
Philip Huggins (donation of Mr & Mrs C G Winfield).
|
CLERGY
VICARS
of St Georges
|
Date
|
Rev
Redhead
|
During the
building
|
Rev H
Fowler
|
1912-16
|
Rev C C
McMichael
|
1916-17
|
Rev J S
Woods
|
1917-22
|
Rev ACF
Gates
|
1923-27
|
Rev W E
Dexter
|
1927-1940
|
Rev L
Perry
|
1940-44
|
Rev J H
Allen
|
1944-45
|
Rev J A
Rowell
|
1946-49
|
Rev L Y
Pace
|
1950-54
|
Rev W J
Carter
|
1954-56
|
Rev R
Butters
|
1956-60
|
Rev A L
Mills
|
1960-66
|
Rev Fred
Dearnley
|
1966-74
|
Rev Noel
Cockings
|
1974-80
|
Rev Mick
Potter
|
1980- 83
(First Vicar of new Parish of Corio)
|
Rev Howard
Langmead
|
1983-88
|
Rev
Geoffrey Traill
|
1988-91
|
Rev Graeme
Perkins
|
1991-93
(in Parish of Bacchus Marsh)
|
Rev Len
Greenhall
|
1994-05
|
Rev
Darrell Couch
|
2006-present
|
PARISH
TREASURERS AND SECRETARIES
TREASURERS
|
VESTRY
SECRETARIES
|
1916-24 Mr
E H Prime
|
1916-24 Mr
E H Prime
|
1924-51 Mr
H Bissell
|
1924-
51 Mr H Bissell
|
1951-60 Mr
E W Vanstan
|
1951-? Mr
J F Fry
|
1960-68 Mr
H T Griffiths
|
?-? Mr L
Beggs
|
1968-71 Mr
R F Moodie
|
?-1985 Mr
I Heath
|
1971-78 Ms
E Dukelow
|
1985-87 Mrs
E Shearer
|
1978- Mr
C G Winfield
|
1987-89 Ms
J Moodie
|
|
1989-92 Mrs
J Mar
|
|
1992- Mr
C G Winfield
|