A Short History The Parish of Swansea ‘A place to belong’ Caring for locals in Blacksmiths, Cams Wharf, Catherine Hill Bay, Caves Beach, Chain Valley Bay, Gwandalan, Murrays Beach, Nords Wharf, Pelican, Summerland Point & Swansea Our Mission: In faith and prayer, to show God’s love to all through our worship, witness and care. Services held at: St Peter’s, 28 Josephson Street, Swansea and Gwandalan Community Hall, Cnr Koowong & Noamunga Crescent, Gwandalan.

St Peter’s Anglican Church, Diocese of Newcastle In the SWANSEA beginning The earliest account of Church aff airs is from the year 1856. According to Miss Louise Boon, the fi rst Bishop of Newcastle, , came to Galgabba, known as Pelican Flat, on a pastoral visit. He gave a doll to a li� le girl who knew her St Peter’s Church of in the 1920s. (George Boyd prayers. This was Miss Collec� on) Boon’s grandmother. The ‘Newcastle Herald’ published this account in 1883: [The reporter]...has been shown by the Reverend Mr. Walter Tollis the plan for a new weatherboard building now being erected at Pelican Flat, Lake Macquarie Heads. This structure will be a great acquisi� on to the locality. It is of Gothic design, and will be 40 feet long by 20 feet in width. It is es� mated it will give comfortable accommoda� on to not less than 130 persons. The plan and specifi ca� ons have been kindly prepared by Mr. Brooks and the contractors are Messrs. Fox and Williams. Mrs. Josephson of Sydney has generously given an acre of her property as a site. The Bishop of Newcastle has promised a handsome subscrip� on to help liquidate the liabili� es that these plucky Lake people have incurred. Several Sydney people, holders of land in the vicinity of the Lake, have responded very liberally to the call of the canvassing commi� ee, who are to be con-gratulated on their great zeal in trying to meet the wants of the Church of England people by erec� ng a suitable place for holding divine worship, a want that has long been felt. This building is the fi rst place of public worship erected at this por� on of the Lake, the services have hitherto been held in the building used as a public school. The second Bishop of Newcastle, Josiah Pearson, dedicated St Peter’s Church of England at Pelican Flat on Easter Sunday, 5th April, 1884. Early ministra� ons

The Parish of Swansea Page 2 were performed by The Rev’ds Walter Tollis and R M Walker. The fi rst recorded weddings were in 1885 when two sisters, Catherine and Maude Taaff e, married Frank Griffi ths and John May respec� vely. Name Change, 1887 The Aboriginal name for the district was Galgabba. With the establishment of white se� lement it was called Pelican Flat. “At a public mee� ng held on 7 October 1887 it was unanimously carried that the name of the rising township should be altered from Pelican Flat to ‘Swansea’. The Post Master-General gave his approval on 1 November 1887. Catherine Hill Bay, 1897, Holy Trinity Church ac� vity commenced in this mining community in 1897 and a community church built. Mr Joseph Speering, the local pit manager, acted as local preacher from 1902 to 1908. In about 1906 the chuch was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. In the 1920s The Rev’ds Gerard Tucker and Milton Williams ministered in Belmont, Swansea and Catherine Hill Bay. Services were held in Holy Trinity on a regular basis when the Missionary District was established in 1957. The � tle of the property was transferred to the Church Trustees in the 1970s. Swansea becomes independent The fi rst incumbent priest was ‘Padre Bill’, The Rev’d W A C Petersen, commissioned on 1 September 1957 when the Missionary District of Swansea, including Catherine Hill Bay, was separated from the Parish of Belmont. The fi rst major task was to move the church from its posi� on on Main Road (Pacifi c Highway) to its new loca� on at 28 Josephson Street. Plans for the development for the new site included the construc� on of a new church and rectory. The cornerstone of the new church was dedicated by the seventh Bishop of Newcastle, Francis de Wi� Ba� y, on 28 September 1958, his last func� on before re� ring.

The Parish of Swansea Page 3 On 14 December 1958 the eighth Bishop of Newcastle, James Housden, dedicated the new St Peter’s. The es� mated cost of the new church was 8,000 Pounds. In the years that followed various groups were formed: the parish Choir in 1958, Sunday School 1959, Mothers’ Union 1958, Ladies Guild 1958, Girls Friendly Society 1959 and The Church of England Boys Society in 1961. The area was declared a Provisional District in August 1969. The new St Peter’s Church in 1958, looking rather bare. Swansea was proclaimed a Parish on 11 December 1977. The old church became the Parish Hall. It was renovated in 1978 with installa� on of a kitchen, the exterior was re-clad and outside toilets constructed. St Paul’s, Pelican In 1960 a Sunday School was started at Pelican Flat on the northern side of Lake Macquarie. This led to the establishment of a congrega� on and the provision of a monthly service of worship in 1963. A permanent church/hall building beside the ‘shed’ used for a Sunday School was dedicated on 13 May 1972. On the 15 November 1982 the Parochial Council closed St Paul’s as a centre of worship. The building was re-located on the church block at Swansea, and with the addi� on of a new front was opened on 8 May 1983.

At back, the original St Peter’s, then Hall; and the newer Hall, formerly St Paul’s at Pelican, with a new front. [photo 1995)

Above: St Paul’s Pelican on the move to Swansea.

The Parish of Swansea Page 4 Memorial Garden The earliest reference to the Memorial Garden was in February 1974. In the 1975 Parish Report it is recorded that the Assistant Bishop, Leslie S� bbard, dedicated the Garden on St Peter’s Day, 29 June 1975. The provision of a Columbarium was discussed in April 1995 and the construc� on The Memorial Garden in 1997. was completed about November, as records indicate that Sid Cohen was paid $319.00 for the work. Gwandalan / Summerland Point, 1961 Church ac� vi� es were commenced in the area in 1961. The congrega� on envisaged the building of a church; a sec� on of approximately 1 hectare was purchased by the Gwandalan and Summerland Point commi� ee. In the late 1980s, having accumulated $60,000, the commi� ee commenced nego� a� ons to purchase a suitable building. The decision to establish the Lakes Anglican Grammar School halted these plans and the land was returned to the Diocese. With the establishment of the school the congrega� on was able to worship regularly in the school chapel of St Francis and St Clare for eleven years, before the closing of the school. On the 31 December 2004 the Church Wardens of Gwandalan and Summerland Point presented a report to the Parish Council of Swansea, � tled, ‘The way we feel’. It was an expression of the disappointment experienced by the congrega� on that their plans for the establishment of a worship centre had failed to reach frui� on in spite of the availability of fi nance and an expanding community. The Trust established by the commi� ee has a balance of over $100,000, but under the condi� ons set out in Diocesan Ordinances it can be used for no other purpose than the construc� on of a church Chapel of St Francis & St Clare at LAGS. building.

The Parish of Swansea Page 5 Clergy Residence There is no indica� on from exis� ng records as to the loca� on of the fi rst clergy house, but the comment is recorded about 1974 that “someone fell through the fl oor boards of the old rectory”. A modern new rectory was blessed by the Auxiliary Bishop, Geoff rey Parker, on 31 July 1977. In 1994 the balance of the proceeds from the sale of the Pelican land was allocated to the cost of a complete renova� on of the rectory. When the residence was no longer required to house a resident clergy person following the resigna� on of The Rev’d Selwyn Dornan in 2010, the Parish Council decided to prepare the house for rental. The proceeds are held in a special fund and when required are allocated to the The Rectory, 2013. maintenance of the building.

Blessing of the Rectory, 31st July 1977. The Rev’d David Simpson, behind him David Harcus, Bishop Geoff rey Parker, Paul Cherry and Lance Burke. (Photo D Simpson)

Geoff Jennison and Fr David Simpson with the bell, ‘King Oscar’, removed from the original Church to place in the new St Peter’s, where it s� ll (2017) calls us to worship. The Parish of Swansea Page 6 Property development St Peter’s Church The accompanying photo- graph shows the new church when dedicated in 1958. Com-pared to the illustra� on on the front of this brief history it becomes obvious that the structure has undergone alter-a� ons in its nearly sixty year life � me. The fi rst addi� on appears to St Peter’s in 1958. be a large white cross installed in the triangular shaped front eleva� on, above the entrance. A photograph taken in 1965 does not show this cross. During the years 1974-1979 there are recorded references to re- arrangement of the sanctuary area, external maintenance work and ground developments. While no record exists, it could be assumed that the cross was added during this period, for it is shown in a photograph in 1980.

St Peter’s Church in 1980.

The interior of St Peter’s Church in 1980.

The Parish of Swansea Page 7 Major altera� ons In 1995 the Parish Council engaged the architect fi rm of Valen� ne and Dick of Newcastle to obtain an indica� on of the cost of re-roofi ng the church, and lining the main ceiling area, construc� ng an enclosed porch and replacement of the wooden side windows. An expenditure of up to $150,000 was set aside with the architects. The original es� mate was $167,000 but as this was over budget, the side wooden windows would remain. The project began in February 1996, and upon comple� on was re-dedicated by the eleventh Bishop of the Diocese, Roger Her� , on 19 May 1996.

The Joan Rutherford Bequest, 1999 Murial Joan Rutherford bequeathed the residue of her estate to be held upon trust for the “Anglican Provisional District of St Peter’s Swansea”. The Church Wardens were, at their discre� on, free to apply the proceeds of the Trust. Probate was granted and in 1999 the Wardens reported that an amount of $78,000 was available. The decision was made to install new windows and screens to the church, and to extend the Parish Hall (previously St Paul’s Church) to include two toilets, a secure

The Parish of Swansea Page 8 The Parish Hall, Swansea, in 2001 a� er changes made as a result of the Rutherford Bequest.

storeroom and servery. It was also decided to install a memorial lead light window in the side chapel. The Wardens’ Report of 2001 re- cords that the Hall extensions were opened and the Memorial window of the Annuncia� on had been dedicated by the Regional Bishop, Graeme Rutherford. A second window, of the Easter Tomb, was also designed and created by Deirdre Anderson, and installed in the right hand side chapel in April 2003, and dedicated by Bishop Roger Her� .

The Parish of Swansea Page 9 A Centenary Project: The 1911 Estey Organ from Holy Trinity, Catherine Hill Bay is believed have come there in the 1950s from a Masonic Lodge at Mayfi eld. As part of the Parish’s Centenary celebra� ons, it was brought to St Peter’s at Swansea and was carefully restored in 1986 by organ builder, Mr A Graham from Sydney, who reported it to be a splendid example of its period — made in Connec� cut, USA. Re- polishing of the walnut case was done by Sco� Wilson, Mr Sam Provest and men of the Parish. The organ was dedicated at the end of the Centenary Service on 29 June, when it was played by Mr Graham. Mrs N Sanderson, a former resident of Swansea, was thanked for her memorial gi� to her son, which met one half of the organ restora� on costs. It now (2017) sits in the Organ Lo� , unused, replaced by an Electronic Organ.

The Parish of Swansea Page 10 Clergy — Parish of Swansea, 1957-2017 PETERSEN, William A.C. 1/9/1957 to 17/2/1963 JOHNSTONE, Tom (LT) 24/2/1963 to 30/6/1963 ONIONS, John V. 14/7/1963 to 12/9/1965 HAMONET, Noel C. 1/10/1965 to 30/10/1966 WEST, John H. 11/11/1966 to 17/5/1970 ALLAN, Donald F. 12/6/1970 to 20/1/1974 Bill Petersen SIMPSON, David S. 24/1/1974 to 3/6/1979 HARRIS, C. Fred (L.T) 1/7/1979 to 2/9/1979 VARCOE, C.H. R. 7/9/1979 to 11/3/1984 WILSON, James D 3/8/1984 to 8/1988 HESSEY, Stanley (L.T) 25/8/1988 to 3.11.1988 (also Hon. Gwandalan & Summerland Point to 2011) BROOKER, John 4/11/1988 to 3/7/1994 HOWARD, Barbara 2/1995 to 30/6/2003 DORNAN Selwyn 21/11/2003 to 14/2/2010 John West GERARD, Clive (Inten� onal Locum) 2/2010 to 4/2015 FRY, Robyn (Inten� onal Locum) 1/2016 to

Barbara Howard Consecra� on of St Peter’s Church, 21 April 1974: A� er the service, the Bishop of Newcastle, The Rt Rev’d Ian Shevill, moves down the aisle to the congrega� on. Priest-in-Charge, was The Rev’d David Simpson. (From the Newcastle Herald)

The Parish of Swansea Page 11 Parish Offi cers 1985-2017 Church Wardens: Adams, Darryl 1993-1994 Burke, Lance 1985-1990 Burke� , Warren 1991-1992, 2017- Butler, A. Don 1985 Chalmers, R 1990 Delaney, Lyne� e 2001-2004 Gill, Kevin 1991-1995 Godden, Arthur 1991-1992 Gregory, Margaret 1997-2000 Howard, June 2013- Hincks, Kevin 1987-89, 1993-2001, 05-16 Leitch, Ross 1985-1987 Reay, Morriss 1995-96, 2001-2003 Munton, Margaret 2010 The interior of St Peter’s 2013 Munton, Peter 2005-08, 2011-12 Plumridge, Bill 2003, 2005-13, 2014- Purcival, Keith 1985-1986 The Parish logo Taylor, Lyn 1989-90, 1996-98, 2004- Wilson, Warren 1988 Secretaries: Diver, Vine� e Treasurers: Hincks, Kevin Blackie, Del Sweet, Beverley Adams, Darryl The Tradi� onal symbol for St Peter Wiley, Catherine Goodwin, Brian is the crossed keys. The origins Honeyse� , SusanneMorriss, ReayReay Plumridge, Chris� ne of this lie in the passage from Morris, LeonardLeonard Ma� hew 16, in the context of Jamieson, Janice Williamson, Vicki Simon’s declara� on that Jesus is Hallam, Barbara Tucker, Pam the Messiah, Jesus gives him the Smith, Trevor name ‘Peter’ meaning rock and [The above informa� on is as accurate as possible, gives to him the keys, the power obtained from Diocesan Year Books and Parish to release people from their sins. Records, which are however incomplete.] The upside cross signifi es the death Peter was to suff er.

This brief history of Swansea Parish is compiled from informa� on and illustra� ons gleaned from the publica� on ‘The Anglican Parish of Swansea 1884-2014: 130 years of Worship, Witness & Work’ by The Rev’d S R Willey. Printed by Belmont Copy Centre 2014, revised 1/2015 Published by Stan & Marion Willey

The Parish of Swansea Page 12