Church clocks up 100 years

BY TIM HOWARD

For exactly 100 years the Uniting Church building at 126 Prince St, Grafton has provided a focal point for worshippers from its distinctly unchurch-like premises and last week decided to throw open its doors for a three-day bash to celebrate its centenary.

Chair of the Church Council Dennis Ford said for six months a dedicated team of the congregation, led by Chris Cormack and including his wife, Linda, have worked continually to put together the celebration of the church.

It culminated on Sunday’s service with around 100 in the church for the Sunday service, followed by a celebratory lunch.

“It’s about 40 more than we would normally get on a Sunday,” Mr Ford said.

From Friday the church was open to the public to explore a collection of antique furniture from its past, photographs and the highlight of the exhibition, a collection of wedding dresses from members of the congregation.

Mr Ford’s wife, Linda, brought in her wedding dress, worn when was married in 1971. In addition she brought in her mum’s dress as well as her wedding photograph.

“One of my two sisters brought in her wedding dress too,” she said.

The collection drew admiration from the community who provided a steady stream of patrons over the three days.

Mr Ford said the building, originally built by the Methodist Church and opened on July 14, 1923, provided an insight into the history of the Uniting Church in Australia.

“On the foundation stone it says the Minister at the time as Rev A E (Alfred Edgar) Walker,” Mr Ford said.

“He had this strong belief the church should be a part of the community and business life in the community and the building’s design should refect this.”

The Rev A E Walker was the father of Sir Alan Walker, the founder of Lifeline and Superintendent of the Wesley Mission.

“They ran the Mission out of the old Lyceum Theatre in Sydney and you could see with the hall in Grafton where that idea came from,” Mr Ford said.

“Before the church was renovated in 1975 it had a long sloping foor down to the alter, much like a theatre.”

Sunday’s congregation were also given a treat when a popular former minister Noel Mansfeld, minister from 1979 to late 1988, led the service.

“It was a great honour and it felt great to be back in Grafton,” he said.

“It brought back memories my time here when we had a great team of people who worked together to do the church’s work.

“The church played a signifcant part in the life of the community. We had the largest youth group in the community at that time.”

Mr Ford said the former minister was very fondly remembered by in the church.

“Getting him to lead the service encouraged a lot of people to come along today to be part of it,” he said.

While Mr Mansfeld was delighted to attend, he has been cutting back his public appearances.

“Noel was leading a

The modern building is still a hive of activity in the community, he said.

In addition to its function as the Uniting Church it’s become the headquarters for the local service down on the South Coast and told them that this was it, his last service,” Mr Ford said.

“Then three days later I rang and asked him to be come to Grafton and he said yes. But this might be the last time.”

Mr Ford said that while it had been a lot of fun celebrating the church building’s birthday, the church was really the people who gathered to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“That’s the biggest deal of all,” he said.

Salvation Army.

“They’ve operating from here since the foods damaged their building around in Oliver St,” he said.

“And the Fijian berry pickers that came here have asked if they can hold services here with their own minister, which of course we said yes to.

“They’ve been great and we’ve really enjoyed all their great music and singing.

“The building’s been put tp a lot of good uses.”

We’d love to hear from you!

letters@heartlandmedia.com.au

Nrrc

By their own admission NRRC are including very minimal data from the February 22 food!! Therefore, many residents are not classifed by them as high risk!

They were specifcally set up as a result of the catastrophic event that was the 22 food and yet they ignore the information from that event!! I’m at a complete loss as to how to explain the thought process behind that decision.

I would like NRRC to explain to the residents, old, very young and everyone in between, how waking up in the early hours of the morning with no power therefore no lighting to discover water IN THEIR HOUSE. These people then had to fnd their way to their rooftop to avoid being drowned. Add to that it was teeming with rain, pitch black, no real access to roof, roof very slippery, bitterly cold and in most instances they had only their pyjamas on. And remember the velocity of water was very fast so if they slipped or fell from the roof they stood a good chance of perishing!

Add to this there was no accurate warnings, correct height of food, no communications except mobile phones IF they remembered to grab them in their haste to fee to safety and NO SIGNS OF RESCUE!!

IF THIS IS NOT A VERY HIGH RISK SITUATION THEN WHAT IS.

NRRC also have after 16 months identifed land

Currently what we have is a clayton’s solution. It appears they are doing something, other than waste money, but realistically they are achieving very little as far as safety for the majority of fooded residents and businesses is concerned Some are leaving the foodplain but I believe these are, unfortunately, leaving the area