All Saints Anglican Church, Canberra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints Church |
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All Saints Church with the bell tower moved to the opposite side when it was rebuilt
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 All Saints Church
Location in Australian Capital Territory
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| 35°15′53″S 149°8′22″E / 35.26472°S 149.13944°E | |
| Location | Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | James Barnet |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sydney sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Canberra and Goulburn |
All Saints Church is an Anglican church located in Ainslie, a suburb of Canberra, Australia. It is part of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. The church follows a style of worship that includes traditional elements.
Contents
What Makes All Saints Church Special?
All Saints Church has a very interesting history! The stone blocks used to build it were originally part of a different building. This building was the first "mortuary station" at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney. A mortuary station was like a train station for funerals.
A Train Station for Funerals
Imagine a train station where coffins were loaded onto trains! That's what the original building was for. A railway line ran right under the main arch of the building, which is now the church's central aisle. The side areas, where people now sit, used to be platforms for the coffins.
A special plaque at the church tells this story:
- "The stonework of this church was originally used to build the first mortuary station on the branch railway to the necropolis rookwood near Sydney. This plaque was presented by the Australian Railway Historical Society to commemorate the old station which was in use from 1868 to 1948."
Moving a Building
The roof of the original station building was destroyed in a fire. In 1957, the church in Ainslie bought the stone blocks for just £A100. They were then moved all the way to Canberra! Workers then rebuilt the structure into the church you see today. During this process, the bell tower was moved from one side of the entrance to the other.
Windows and a Train Bell
The church has two beautiful stained-glass windows that came all the way from England. One large window is from St Clement's church in Sheffield. There's also a smaller window from St Margaret's Bagendon in Gloucestershire.
The church bell also has a cool story! It used to be on a special train called a Shay locomotive. This train ran on the Wolgan Valley Railway in the Blue Mountains. The train was taken apart in 1925, and the bell was given to All Saints Church in 1958.
Important Dates and Features
The church was officially blessed on June 1, 1958. A special stone was set by Lord Carrington, who was an important representative from the United Kingdom at the time.
Inside the church, there is a rare pipe organ from 1857. It was moved here in 1989-1990 from a church in London, England.
All Saints Church has a traditional choir that sings during weekly services. They also have a special evening service called Evensong each month from April to September.
At the back of the church, there is a garden and a "columbarium." This is a place where the ashes of people who have passed away can be kept. The church also has cool gargoyle sculptures on the outside and two carved angels inside. There are two small chapels inside, one dedicated to the Virgin Mary and another named after Gethsemane.
Recognised for its History
Because of its unique history and special features, All Saints Church was added to the Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register on September 14, 2000. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.
Past Leaders of the Church
The church has had many rectors (the main priests) over the years. Here are some of them:
- Edward Gilbert Buckle, 1959-1962
- Francis Robert Woodwell, 1963-1966
- Neville James Chynoweth, 1966-1971
- James Lewis Tregea, 1971-1980
- Ronald Earl Moon, 1980-1987
- Dennis Arnold Vanderwolf, 1987-1998
- Anthony John Parkes, 1998-2004
- Sarah Anne Macneil, 2004-2009
- Michael Faragher, 2009-2014
- Lynda McMinn, 2015-2023
- John Stead, 2023-present
Gallery
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The Mortuary Station in Rookwood Cemetery c. 1865
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Stone set on the blessing of the church in 1958
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Plaque on the church
See also
- List of Anglican churches in Australia
- Australian non-residential architectural styles
