Old Noarlunga St Philip & St James Anglican church

Foundation stone 28 Jul 1850 by Bishop Augustus Short, designed by Mr Burnet, opened May 1852, bell installed in tower 1863, new chancel dedicated 20 Dec 1904, re-opened 7 Dec 1930 after renovations, closed c2015, now private. Earliest services had been in the flour mill or Horseshoe Inn.

 

“A Meeting of the subscribers for the erection of a Church at Noarlunga, was held on Friday last, when Messrs Bosworth, Hollins, and J. S. Clark were elected trustees. The church will be a very pretty structure of stone from the neighbouring quarries, and it is to be on an acre in the township presented by Mr Giles for the South Australian Company.” [South Australian 26 Jun 1850]

 

“Noarlunga — The foundation stone of the new church to be dedicated to St. Phillip and St. James, was laid on Friday, the 28th ultimo, by the Bishop of Adelaide, in the presence of a numerous, and highly respectable, concourse of the inhabitants. . . Divine service was performed for the first time on Sunday last, at the ‘Horse Shoe’ Inn. Mr Bock, the worthy landlord, fitted up the room for the occasion, and Miss Plaisted led the various hymns on a splendid organ. . . a great improvement upon the pro tempore places of worship previously used at Noarlunga.” [Adelaide Times 3 Aug 1850]

 

“The towered church of St. Philip and St. James, Noarlunga, perched on a hill, with the silver ribbon of the Onkaparinga winding in and out at its foot, was designed by Mr. Burnet after the model of a church in England.” [Observer 23 Dec 1905]

 

“St. Phillip and St. James' Anglican Church. . . When services were first held there the gospel was preached in somewhat trying circumstances. There were no window panes, strips of calico serving instead. No floor had been set down, and the congregation rested their feet on the soil. . . The name of the church is derived from the Christian names of two of the pioneer workers in the district — Messrs. James Hughes and Phillip Hollins. Before the erection of the church the former conducted a Sunday school in a flourmill nearby.” [News 16 May 1929]

 

“Noarlunga . . . A large bronze bell weighing 120 lbs. has been fixed in the tower of the Episcopal Church here, and will be very useful to the members of that congregation. The gentlemen who have kindly taken the trouble to procure the bell are certainly deserving of the thanks of the members of the church. It is of a good tone, but it has not yet been properly rung. Some trees and shrubs have been planted in the ground adjoining the sacred edifice, but whilst the fence is in an open and decayed state, there can be little hopes of seeing plants grow, as pigs, goats, and calves, are constantly getting into the enclosure.” [Advertiser 22 Aug 1863]

 

“St. Philip and St. James' Church. . . a lecture and concert was held in Mr. Holmes's wheat store in aid of the funds for plastering and ceiling the church. In the afternoon about 100 persons were present, which number was largely increased in the evening.” [Adelaide Observer 14 Apr 1866]

 

“The anniversary festival of the Sunday school belonging to St, Philip and St. James's Church was held on Thursday. Eighty children marched from the church to the district school room, singing hymns, were supplied with fruit, spent some time in play, and then were provided liberally with other refreshments. Between 50 and 60 adults were next regaled, and the whole company had a day of thorough enjoyment.” [Register 15 Mar 1871]

 

“St. Philip and St. James, Noarlunga. . . The Wardens' accounts, which were audited and passed, showed the Church to be in a very satisfactory financial position, and clear of all liabilities. . . discharging the balance of building fund, £25, and left £6 7s. 4d. in hand towards further improvement.” [Register 1 May 1873]

 

“A stained glass window, the subject of which is ‘The Ascension’, will shortly be placed in the east end of the Anglican Church of Saints Phillip and James,-Noarlunga. The opening, which is unusually large, 8 ft. by 5 ft, will be filled by one complete light unbroken by masonry. The figures depicted in the window are boldly drawn, and the rich and various colors of the drapery blend harmoniously. The central figure, that of our Lord, stands in strong relief in white against the blue of the sky and the yellow rays of the opening heavens, and forms the point of the picture. The window is handsome bordered with vine leaves and grapes, and on the lower margin is the inscription: — ‘Peace be unto you. Lo, I am with you alway’. There is also a tablet with the words: — ‘To the glory of God. Erected by George and Eliza Yates, 1895’. The work entitles Messrs. Montgomery and Grimbly, the designers and executants, to very great credit.” [Advertiser 8 Jan 1896]

 

“Rev. J. H. Stokes, lncumbent of the Church of St. Phillip and St. James, Noarlunga, was presented with a set of double harness, silver mounted. The presentation was made by Mr. L. Weber on behalf of the members of the Church. . . A large stained-glass window valued an £80 is about to be placed in the eastern end of the Church as the result of the liberality of an old and much esteemed resident in the district, who has been a member of the Church since its erection in 1851.” [Register 15 May 1895]

 

“On Sunday, February 2, the ceremony of unveiling the stained-glass memorial window presented to the Church of SS. Philip and James, Noarlunga, by Mr. and Mrs. S. Yates, was performed by the Anglican Bishop in the presence of a large congregation. . . Mr. and Mrs. Yates have also caused to be erected a new communion railing in the Church of a light and graceful appearance, and a lady of England is the donor of a new altar and cloth.” [Register 6 Feb 1896]

 

“St Phillip’s and St James' Church, Noarlunga. . . A committee was appointed to consider the question of building new chancel and repairing the church.” [Advertiser 19 Apr 1902]

 

“A new chancel will be dedicated by the Bishop of Adelaide (Dr. Harmer) at Sts. Philip and James, Noarlunga, on Sunday. The church was completed, with chancel and vestry, in 1867, and the present rector is the Rev. T. Wood.” [Advertiser 16 Dec 1903]

 

“Noarlunga. . . A beautiful carved blackwood reredos for the Church of St. Phillip and St. James was dedicated by Archdeacon Clampett, of St. Matthew's Church, Hawthorn, last Friday evening. The reredos is erected to commemorate the seventy-fifth birthday of the sacred edifice. . . After the service the congregation and friends met in the local hall. . . The reredos is the work of Mr. Price, of Adelaide.” [Observer 17 Oct 1925]

 

“Many inconveniences have been suffered by the congregation of St. Phillip and St. James' Anglican Church. . . At present the church is in a sad state of disrepair owing to lack .of funds to cope with the ravages which Time has wrought. Such a pitch has the disrepair reached that on rainy days members of the congregation dare not sit in the back rows, for dripping gutters have no respect for Sunday clothes. Recently, also, two churchgoers were rather fortunate in moving from one of the pews just before a large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling. Large cracks may be seen in various parts of the church, inside and out, and the possibility of more plaster falling presents danger. Some of the window frames has become separated partially from the stonework, and to prevent the entry of wind and rain .newspaper has been stuffed into the space. . . From time to time improvements were made to the church, which now boasts a brick floor and leadlight windows.” [News 16 May 1929]

 

“the third of a series of dances, arranged by Mr. Keith Maynard, for the restoration fund of St. Philip and James Church, Noarlunga.” [Advertiser 11 Jun 1929]

 

“Hawdon in his first overland expedition (1839) struck the Horseshoe after coming down the Onkaparinga, and from thence was able to make a beeline for Adelaide. . . Mr. Peter Giles, an octogenarian comeback, says that in his days there were only six houses, a brewery, and a flourmill in Noarlunga. Beautiful trees and shrubs, wattle, honeysuckle, silver wattle, sheaoak, tea tree, and masses of wild flowers grew in profusion and beauty along the river bank to Port Noarlunga. . . Philip Hollins was the father of Onkaparinga River navigation. The barge Appoline was built to be towed between Port Noarlunga by a horse on a tow path (1857). Hollins was also the proprietor of the Horseshoe Hotel. . . The Rev. A. Burnett held the first Anglican services in the district in its lodgeroom (1848-1853). . . In the seventies and eighties Noarlunga was the great changing place of the Yankalilla-Adelaide mail. At the Horseshoe Inn the passengers transhipped into a larger or smaller coach as the case might be.” [Advertiser 28 Oct 1929]

 

“To celebrate the reopening of St. Philip and St. James Anglican Church, Noarlunga, following renovations at a cost of £200, a back to Noarlunga service will be held on Sunday afternoon. It will be followed by a reunion tea. Archdeacon A. W. Clampett, M.A., will preach. There is a special corner for children in the church. It is in the form of a font presented by scholars of catechism.” [News 3 Dec 1930]

 

“For eighty-one years the Church of St. Phillip and St. James, Noarlunga, has been a prominent landmark on the main South-road. . . Children of the Catechism have furnished the church with a massive font and a shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” [Advertiser 17 Oct 1931]

 

“In the Anglican Church at Noarlunga on Sunday, a memorial window to the late Mrs. Eleanor Maynard was unveiled by the rector (Rev. R. E. Saunders). Designed in a mixture of antique and opaque glass, the window shows the Star in the East shining over Bethleham [sic]. Mr. Saunders preached a memorial sermon, taking as text ‘Let your light so shine before men’. Friends of Mrs. Maynard throughout the State contributed to the cost of the window.” [Advertiser 25 Aug 1934]

 

“Noarlunga. Last week ladles of the St. Phillip and St. James's Church of England Guild conducted a pet show in the institute in aid of the Church of England Diocesan Centenary.” [Advertiser 27 May 1947]

 

“A Blossom Ball organised by members of the St. Phillip's and St. James's Church of England Guild in aid of the church centenary fund realised £36.” [Advertiser 14 Aug 1947]

 

“Next Sunday the centenary of St. Philip and St. James Church of England will be celebrated. . . Eucharist, with the Bishop of Adelaide. . . luncheon in Noarlunga Hall. . . Evensong at 3 p.m. . . The first rector was Rev. A. Burnett, who arrived in 1848 and lived in a tent at Willunga. During his term of office the church was contemplated. On July 25, 1850 the land was conveyed under Act 10. 1847, by Messrs. G. F. Angus, Hy. Kingscote and I. R. Todd in trust. . . From 1856 onwards the rectors were Revs. T. R. Neville, E. K. Miller, F. H. Stokes, G. Griffiths, T. Wood, H. C. Thrush, R. E. Saunders and H. J. Hughes, the present rector.” [Advertiser 9 May 1950]

 

“Edward Giles, who was connected with the South Australian Company and had a farm on the opposite side of the river, gave the land for the church. Mrs. F. Rayner, president of the Ladies' Guild, said originally the church had a slate floor and calico windows.” [News 12 Nov 1952]

 

Done