Parish of All Saints’, Chermside do this the Wells Organisation was hired and In June 1954, the Parochial District of they organised teams to visit all the Chermside was raised to the status of Parish. parishioners and obtain pledges to donate fixed This was possible because the local church amounts of money. Previously, there had been with 190 Communicants on the Roll was now at least two such appeals. The first was in 1951 able to pay a full stipend to the priest1. Rev L when Fr Grayson arrived. It was the Weekly W (Chum) Grayson became the first Rector. Freewill Offering (WFO) and in the first Pew Previously he had been the Vicar and was Bulletin it is recorded that by June there were appointed by the Bishop who could also move 66 subscribers. The second raised ₤100 in him. A Rector was paid by the Parish and had 1953 ($4,600 in 2001 values). However, the tenure. He could apply for other positions and 1956 scheme was a much larger effort and was being organised by outsiders and the amount move on when he desired. 2 pledged was ₤21,000. In the 11 months between 13/5/1956 and 31/3/1957, ₤6,319 had Now that the parish was able to pay a Rector it 3 had a say in appointing any new ones. This been raised ($134,800 in 2001 values) was the job of the Parochial Nominators who were elected by the Parishioners. Mr Harris, B. The scheme was looking good and the Fallis and Ken Pollard were the first to be brochure for the next Planned Giving Program, elected Nominators. to begin on the 24 December 1961, gave the following details. Since April 1956 income The house and land adjoining All Saints’ (495- was ₤37,417 while expenditure was ₤40,929. 499 Hamilton Road) was purchased in August So the 1956 Campaign continued successfully 1954 for ₤2000 ($46,400 in 2001 values). It for five and a half years. was used as an office for the first “planned giving program”, the Wells Scheme in 1956. These Planned Giving Programs were the first Later, because of its deteriorating condition, it of many which continue to be held regularly. was demolished and the site earmarked for the They have become a permanent feature of All future church hall. The existing hall behind the Saints’ life. Although some people did not like church already needed many structural repairs the scheme, most saw that it was necessary in but it was not replaced till 1977. order to raise the large sums of money needed by the modern church. This method of fund In January 1955, a vacant block of land (36 raising enabled forward planning to take place. perches) was purchased at 4 Watcombe Street, It depended heavily on lay participation and Wavell Heights. This was the site of the thus increased the lay involvement in parish daughter church, St Thomas’. This drain on life. This in turn increased lay responsibility the finances of All Saints’ was necessary at the for the welfare of the church. Hopefully, it time because most people still walked to would release the priest from a lot of the day church. The automobile age was just to day problems of running the parish. beginning in Australia. The money spent would be recouped when St Thomas’ was sold. Wells Scheme Planned Giving In 1956 the parish started on one of its most ambitious projects, to raise the sum of ₤20,000 ($436,000 in 2001 values) over three years. To 1 1914 The original All Saints’ Church 1921 Rev Taylor and Elsie Chesterfield 1956 Fr Chum Grayson in front of All Saints’ – the porch was added in 1927 1959 Fr Anthony and Bernie Smith 1978 All Saints’ with 1960 front and the newly built Hall 1987 Sanctuary with red backdrop curtain 1996 Completed Church with Bell Tower, Porch glassed in and Hall on the right 2004 New sanctuary with the Saints in Glory covered for Lent. 2 1956 Hostesses Finney’s Stewardship Dinner 1954 CEYMS Ken Pollard and Fr Grayson 1952 Mock Deb Ball – Boys and Girls 1956 Invitation to first Direct Giving Dinner change places. Fr Grayson in normal suit 1961 Wardens and Sub Wardens farewell Fr Grayson on his departure to Maryborough 1948 M U at Mrs White’s home 1950 Fancy Dress in School of Arts. Front: Bev Burnett (Lee), K Sinclair, Alma Burnett. 1956 Altar Server Back: P Moreton, Ray Spry, Brian Spry Phil Stewart (Now Fr) 3 All Saints’ in 1956 by the Housing Commission, War Service The Canvass Brochure 1956 gives a snapshot Homes and private builders. The local primary picture of the parish at the time. school, Chermside State, had 529 pupils in 1950 and 897 in 1959. Chermside was indeed 6 The daughter churches of Bald Hills, Zillmere, growing. Geebung, Aspley and of East Chermside (or Wavell Heights) were a continual, but In September 1957 it was decided to establish necessary, drain on parish finances. a branch of CEMS in the parish by inviting a representative of the society to address the 7 There were 600 families in Chermside (about inaugural meeting on Monday 23/9/1957 . The 3,000 people) while the church could only seat size of the membership is not recorded but the 70 people. The challenge was to reach those society found difficulty in maintaining it. The who never came to services. There were three CEMS report to the April 1958 Annual services, two morning and one night, each Meeting commented on the poor attendance 8 Sunday at All Saints’. and invited all members to become active. Sunday School had 220 scholars on the roll. At the same meeting the CEYMS report Youth were catered for by CEBS – boys from “explained the reasons why the attendance had 9 to 14 years; CEYMS for the older males generally fallen off”. Thus both male societies from 16 to 25; GFS for girls over 14; Junior & were facing falling membership but no reasons Intermediate GFS for the younger girls; were recorded in the minutes. Ladies’ Guild and the Mothers’ Union for the older women. There was no CEMS for the Finally, in October 1958 the Rector reported men but it was hoped that “a branch will that the CEYMS in the parish had been commence later this year”. Ken Pollard notes disbanded and the money left over in their that it was founded in 1957. bank account had been used to buy a Ciborium as a memorial to the CEYMS. Children were baptized and their names placed on the Cradle Roll; later they attended Sunday Since it was a time of full employment the School. On reaching the age of discretion they young men were probably buying cars and were instructed in the Church Catechism by motor bikes. This gave them mobility that the Rector and brought before the Bishop for earlier generations never had and enabled them Confirmation. Then the child became a to widen their horizons. They could now reach communicant “member of the Church and took distant venues of entertainment or interest and his/her place at the Altar to receive the the church affiliation was suffering to some Sacrament of Holy Communion.”4 extent. Also the effect of movies, radio and to a lesser extent, television was attracting more Ken Pollard comments that the 1956 Direct people away from church attendance. Giving brought many people back to the practice of their faith. The men of the parish Land in Rossett Street, Chermside West was walked miles and knocked on hundreds of purchased in November 1957. In February doors and obtained pledges from many people. 1959, land adjoining St Matthias’ Zillmere He thinks this awakened in many the desire to was purchased and a church hall was erected. become active again. The dramatic rise in the number of communicants from 190 in 1954 to By January 1959 the parish officials 400 in 1960 would have been partly caused by approached the bank to discuss the possibility the Pledging.5 Another important factor would of a loan to extend the old church. They had have been the growth in local area population no success and were advised to improve their in the post WWII period. This was a time account. In other words they didn’t have when whole streets of houses were being built enough money to build a new church or In thanksgiving for "All The Saints" who have shared in the life of our faith community - yesterday, today - tomorrow - Neville and Margaret Coombs 4 To my parents Alex and Elsie Thurgar, sister Joyce Trantor and Godmother, Kit Waite, whose love and guidance helped me focus on God and follow Jesus - Bev & George Anderson portion of one. seemed that the problem was solved with a group of six volunteers who would transport This meant that the parish would have to raise him as needed in their cars. finance internally by another canvass. This led to another problem The Rector advised that This arrangement lasted till February 1960 some of the old families with whom they had when the Rector advised that a car had been difficulty during previous canvasses had been obtained for the Assistant Curate Rev Anthony included in the present canvass. This indicates – an old second hand Ford Pilot. How old? No that not all were happy with the canvass price is mentioned but the next entry in the method of raising money. minutes gives some idea. The Council decided to insure the car in March but mainly for the The minutes then go on to record that a comprehensive policy to cover damage to Councillor, Mr Moody, advised that he was other cars.