On November 2nd we celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the opening ceremony and the first services being conducted at St Georges at the beginning of November 1889. Past and present clergy and members of the congregation came to together give thanks for 125 years of sharing the love of Christ in Paddington at the 9am service, which was followed by drinks in the garden and an early finger food lunch inspired by a Victorian high tea.
Rev Paul Woodhart, the son of of Norman Woodhart (Rector 1955-1974) produced a board showing the Rectors of St Georges over the first 125 years.
Bishop Bruce Wilson (Rector 1975-1983) preached and Philip & Rosemary Bradford (1991-2000) ,Chris Albany (2001-2005) & Robyn, and Glenda Watkins, on behalf of Clive Watkins (2006-2013) were able to be with us; and with members of the congregations at the time shared their reflections from that period.
Paul Pryor remembers 40 years at St George’s:
- Annual House Parties with visiting speakers and various activities such as banner making, tennis, and trivia quizzes led by Bruce and Rene Thomson.
- Christmas activities including carolling the streets of Paddington and the annual Pageant devised and produced by Jennie Whitfield.
- Guitar singing with the children beginning the 9am service
- Parish bushwalks
- The Parish Magazine published quarterly with illustrations by Margaret Ackland and articles by members of the congregation, letterboxed across the Parish.
Jacquie Pryor reflects:
Paul and I are members of the morning congregation where we seek comfort and challenge in the service of worship. St George’s is also a place to have conversations that matter with a group of accepting people who are interested and interesting. Occasionally we have tried attending Church closer to where we live in Randwick but we are always drawn back to our spiritual home. The concern for justice, the sensitive approach to theological issues, the creative and caring people and, of course, morning tea in the garden, are all ingredients in the mix of an ordinary village Church going about the extraordinary business of ‘keeping the rumor of God alive’ in Paddington.
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