120 Years On

St Marks Anglican Church

Brookton Western Australian

Celebrating 120 Years in 2015

St Marks Easter morning 2006

Almost twenty years ago a service was held to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the consecration of St Marks in Brookton, Western Australia. Now almost twenty years on the Church is facing its' greatest test, that of finding its' place in the local community in the twenty first century.

2015 will be a meaningful year in Brookton as our thoughts turn to 1915 and Gallipoli. So what's the connection you may well ask? Therein lays a story that could have been lost in the pages of history. What is the significance of the Church, your Church, in that era?

In fact today as well!

In the early 1890's the railway came to town, at the same time a group of locals felt it would be fitting to have a place of worship in the townsite. The result was a small building on what was then the southern outskirts of town.

It became the centre of both family and community life in the form of regular services, weddings, baptisms, funerals, harvest thanksgivings and carols by candlelight.

With the commencement of World War one young men enlisted, were trained and went overseas to Gallipoli, the Middle East and Europe. Some never to return. Comfort for the families came in part through fellow worshippers.

One family made a lasting tribute to their son in the form of an ornately carved oak altar. Anyone who has ever taken communion in St Marks will see the words inscribed to memory of Private Herbert (Herb) Arnold Williams.

That was 1917.

Easter 2006. Note the carved Oak altar.

In the succeeding ninety six years St Marks has been a family Church and has seen some both memorable and emotional times. Memorable as in the carols by candlelight when a thunderstorm caused a power failure. Memorable times for Brides and Grooms. Memorable times for welcoming new members through baptism and celebrating the lives of many at the end of their lives.

So why this letter.

A Church isn't just a building, it's people enjoying meaningful times together. It's a place of support and encouragement. It's a place where we share a common ideal, despite the differences that make us human. That's really the fun part. At a more serious level it is adding our own story to the chapters that make up the history of a significant part of our community. Of that which our ancestors were a part of. Their lives and the traditions and values that have been passed on.

I'd like to invite you to share your story of memories of St Marks and ask your views on how it's presence has influenced your life and how you feel it can remain relevant in the future. This will help create the story of what can be achieved by a small group in a small community in maintaining relevance in the twenty first century.

Without your part in the story the book of St Marks may be closed and it cease to be more than a dot on the map of the history of Brookton.

There is a vision for the future of this magnificent building, its history and significance, but without people the story ends here.

Please take the time to provide feedback and your support.

Do you know who made this bell tower,

what their role was in the Church and when?