BTW. Because they struggle to get six worshippers at Sunday services, many a Tasmanian country church is being sold off. If lucky, they go to people who respect and care and maintain them, even if converted for living purposes. If they end up a mess. At worst someone sticks a match to them, as happened to North Lilydale Presbyterian Church. The last Protestant church in Lilydale still used for worship is the Lilydale Uniting Church which in 2015 celebrated its 125th anniversary. Its congregation has dwindled. What future for that much loved building?
Thanks to Heritage Lilydale, today I attended a terrific talk by Nigel Burch whose second history book on Lilydale district. The Piper's Call, is now available. Today's presentation mainly concentrated on the the slate industry at Bangor, the Turners Marsh farming community and Underwood's river-powered sawmill of the 1850s. Nigel is such a thorough researcher and a lively interesting presenter. We met in the old Bangor Anglican Church - thanks to the joint efforts of current owner Kim Rochere, Keith Morrison and neighbour Heather Peterson. What a cute and comfortable little country church with everything left intact, pews, altar, WW1 roll of honour, banners, memorial plaques, stained glass, all of it. Pine panelled inside and corrugated iron outside. Sixty people filled it and Nigel paid tribute to its builder James Atherton and its current stewards. Our sincere thanks to all who erected the Lions marquee (and put it away in gusty winds), all those who provided afternoon tea and all who contributed (notably Catherine Hamilton on the revered old organ and Jen Whawell, lead soprano in Tamar Valley Voices, Beaconsfield, who led the singing, yes, singing of Welsh songs like the slate miners of yore!) and thanks to all who attended. It was a delightful and educational afternoon.
BTW. Because they struggle to get six worshippers at Sunday services, many a Tasmanian country church is being sold off. If lucky, they go to people who respect and care and maintain them, even if converted for living purposes. If they end up a mess. At worst someone sticks a match to them, as happened to North Lilydale Presbyterian Church. The last Protestant church in Lilydale still used for worship is the Lilydale Uniting Church which in 2015 celebrated its 125th anniversary. Its congregation has dwindled. What future for that much loved building?
1 Comment
Phillip Mahnken
3/2/2021 06:17:31 pm
Correction. "At worst someone sticks a match to them, as happened to North Lilydale Presbyterian Church." I now believe that church building was given or sold to the Mt Arthur School at the top of White's Mill Road site. It was Bowrons' old house nearby that got torched. I will check on all this.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPhillip Mahnken third son of Pat and Liane, grandson of Jim and Rose ('George'); g-g-son of Harry and Sarah; g-g-g-son of Johann Heinrich born Hanover and Ellen Rourke born Kilkenny, Ireland. Languages teacher and life long questionner, especially about Lilydale history. Archives
June 2023
Categories |