Comments on: Gold building saved but who will save church? http://www.crispinhull.com.au/2009/06/13/beechworth-2/ Journalism and other writing Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:41:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Graham Sawyer http://www.crispinhull.com.au/2009/06/13/beechworth-2/comment-page-1/#comment-251 Graham Sawyer Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:10:35 +0000 http://www.crispinhull.com.au/2009/06/13/9342/#comment-251 Dear Crispin, You got it wrong about Beechworth Anglican Church. Between 2006 and 2008 the congregation size increased by about a quarter, the number of weddings by 1100% and baptisms by 500%. The ten year old debt has been cleared and they now have a full time priest who happens also to be the local Archdeacon. The church has been re-wired with new lighting in the last year. The organ has been totally restored at a cost of $45,000+ and this has made it one of the finest organs in the north-east of Victoria. As a result there are frequent musical concerts. The church hall has been totally restored too and the Rectory completely renovated including new roof, new wiring, new bathroom and total re-decoration inside and out (paid for by the sale of the plots of land). The church congregation has many links in the town not least with the Beechworth Neighborhood Centre and continues to be involved with the gaol. All in all, given the decline of the Anglican Church nationally (especially in rural areas), Christ Church Beechworth has bucked the trend. Ask Betty Hornsey – she knew your father and she will confirm the recent revival. Yours sincerely, Graham Sawyer The Vicarage Widecombe-in-The-Moor Newton Abbot Devon TQ13 7TF Dear Crispin,
You got it wrong about Beechworth Anglican Church. Between 2006 and 2008 the congregation size increased by about a quarter, the number of weddings by 1100% and baptisms by 500%. The ten year old debt has been cleared and they now have a full time priest who happens also to be the local Archdeacon. The church has been re-wired with new lighting in the last year. The organ has been totally restored at a cost of $45,000+ and this has made it one of the finest organs in the north-east of Victoria. As a result there are frequent musical concerts. The church hall has been totally restored too and the Rectory completely renovated including new roof, new wiring, new bathroom and total re-decoration inside and out (paid for by the sale of the plots of land). The church congregation has many links in the town not least with the Beechworth Neighborhood Centre and continues to be involved with the gaol.
All in all, given the decline of the Anglican Church nationally (especially in rural areas), Christ Church Beechworth has bucked the trend. Ask Betty Hornsey – she knew your father and she will confirm the recent revival.
Yours sincerely,
Graham Sawyer

The Vicarage
Widecombe-in-The-Moor
Newton Abbot
Devon TQ13 7TF

]]> By: Desmond Zwar http://www.crispinhull.com.au/2009/06/13/beechworth-2/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Desmond Zwar Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:11:49 +0000 http://www.crispinhull.com.au/2009/06/13/9342/#comment-244 From : dezwar@dragnet.com.au From Desmond Zwar 2 Mulholland Dve Beechworth Mr.Crispin Hull, a Canberra journalist and son of the late Fr.Bobby Hull of Christ Church Beechworth, has visited Beechworth and written an article in The Canberra Times, asking: Who will save church? referring to Christ Church, which he says will inevitably close in the next decade or two and be put to other uses: a restaurant for tourists, perhaps? He points to the few remaining Anglicans who worship as being in their 70s with scarcely a breeding-age couple among the endangered species that is Anglicanism in Beechworth. Perhaps, says Mr.Hull, the National Trust might buy the building for its splendid granite blocks, because the large building is far too big for the congregation. Being (guiltily) also in my 70s and worshipping on Sundays at Christ Church and remembering Crispin's livewire father I would like to reassure him that the church is about to celebrate its 150 years anniversary, has an energetic, wise and stimulating new vicar and yes, has gas heaters which Mr.Hull finds a bit dated, along with the brass, pews,pulpit and rail he also seems to find offensive. It has a friendly congregation that braves wind, rain and hail every Sunday and its granite building is ready to stand another 150 years. Since Mr Hull's pessimistic tirade, however, I have noticed the crack in the wall behind the altar seems to have got wider. Is there a connection? Desmond Zwar Beechworth From : dezwar@dragnet.com.au

From Desmond Zwar
2 Mulholland Dve
Beechworth

Mr.Crispin Hull, a Canberra journalist and son of the late Fr.Bobby Hull of Christ Church Beechworth, has visited Beechworth and written an article in The Canberra Times, asking: Who will save church? referring to Christ Church, which he says will inevitably close in the next decade or two and be put to other uses: a restaurant for tourists, perhaps? He points to the few remaining Anglicans who worship as being in their 70s with scarcely a breeding-age couple among the endangered species that is Anglicanism in Beechworth. Perhaps, says Mr.Hull, the National Trust might buy the building for its splendid granite blocks, because the large building is far too big for the congregation.

Being (guiltily) also in my 70s and worshipping on Sundays at Christ Church and remembering Crispin’s livewire father I would like to reassure him that the church is about to celebrate its 150 years anniversary, has an energetic, wise and stimulating new vicar and yes, has gas heaters which Mr.Hull finds a bit dated, along with the brass, pews,pulpit and rail he also seems to find offensive.

It has a friendly congregation that braves wind, rain and hail every Sunday and its granite building is ready to stand another 150 years.

Since Mr Hull’s pessimistic tirade, however, I have noticed the crack in the wall behind the altar seems to have got wider.

Is there a connection?

Desmond Zwar
Beechworth

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