St Clement’s Anglican Church at Baan Baa held a special church service on Saturday, September 21 to celebrate the centenary of the building of the church.
There was a church prior to this date but it was destroyed.
The Foundation stone for the current building was laid August 1919 by Rev Canon Villiers-Reid and was built by George Vine.
While information regarding the building of the church is scant, one parishioner recalls that there was a report that a man died while building the church when he fell off the roof.
Research by The Courier from the Boggabri Museum records show that it was a well supported parish.
Confirmation numbers grew during the early years.
In August 1914, seven males and seven females were presented for confirmation.
In June 1918 there were 10 males and 20 females and in November 1930 there were 20 males and 17 females.
Across these years, ages ranged from 11 to 56 years.
Weddings at St Clement’s included August 19, 1914 – Percy Alexander Reginald Woods and Sarah Elizabeth Woods, witnesses Agnes Maud Miller and William Herbert Miller. The Minister was Rev F de P St John.
July 5 1916 saw Archibald Clarence Frater and Eva Maude Hughes, witnesses ACV McGinnity and P Frater. The Minister was Rev F de P St John.
More weddings followed, however when the new church was built one of the first weddings was that of John Machefer Graham and Ivy Maud Wegwood with witnesses CA Hudson and HE Taylor and Rev HCV Lancaster.
An interesting point to this wedding is that descendants of John Graham came back to Baan Baa for a reunion and tour of the district in April 2019.
The group attended the Anzac Dawn service and while there they met up with Baan Baa resident Dave Hudson.
Dave is a descendant of C Hudson a witness to the wedding on July 14 1920.
The bell of the church was given by the parishioners in memory of Private William Herbert Miller who was killed in action in Gallipoli on September 6 1915.
Lance Corporal Ormuz K Leach’s mother donated the Elements Desk (Bread and Wine) in memory of her son who was killed in action on August 31 1918.
Jack Maunder died November 7, 1918 and his family donated the porch window.
The Prayer Desk was given by St Clement’s Guild in memory of Minnie Greenlees who died July 20 1924.
Minnie was the wife of Gavin Greenlees the teacher at Baan Baa 1921 to 1925.
A petition was presented to the Diocese of Armidale for permission to cover the church floor with linoleum and was duly registered and approved on July 28, 1930.
Baan Baa friends donated the Baptismal Jug in memory of Susanna A Eather who died May 20, 1931.
On June 4, 1971 Avis Whan donated the Front Altar in the memory of Lesley Margaret Michell.
The Memorial fence around the church was erected by families and congregation in 1974.
Those remembered on this Memorial fence included – Bertram Eather, Edwin Lennox, Cecily M Clark, Gordon L Rees, Mollie N Johns, Ida M Lennox, Laurence H Guest, Phillip Carl Bartusch and Keith Eather.
The bell tower was erected in memory of Adelaide Gwendoline Fordham by her husband Allan and children Priscilla, Ian, Caroline and Jennifer.
Mrs Fordham passed away June 9, 1979 aged 58 years.
The Porch Table was donated in memory of Ces Clark, Esteemed Patroness Boggabri 2MO Radio Club.
Notes compiled by and held by the Boggabri Museum re the St Clement’s Women Guild minutes have some interesting information.
The minute book was passed to Mrs Ryan on January 2, 1929, previous minutes having been apparently lost.
The annual meeting was held September 12, Mrs Ryan president, Mrs B. Eather secretary, Mrs Starr treasurer.
Membership was 2/6, (two shilling and six pence).The annual ball was held October 30, followed by a juvenile dance on the 31st, entry was gents 7/6 (seven shillings and six pence) and ladies 5/0 (five shillings).
Some of the expenses for the ball were for candles, butter, bread, fruit, ham and Bridges band.
Advertising the ball in the Boggabri Examiner cost £1/12/0 (One pound twelve shillings).
At the June 11 meeting in 1930 Miss Perkins proposed that a Communion bread box be purchased in oak at a cost of 10/6 and be placed in the church in memory of Mrs Peno.
The 1933 annual report included the fact that the CWA had been given free use of the crockery cupboard for about nine and a half years; this was now terminated as the CWA had bought their own crockery.
In 1934, an autumn ball was held with entry costs for gents 3/0 and ladies 2/6.
Euchre to be available for non dancers and Mahoney’s orchestra cost £5/0/0, hall rent £1/1/0, the profit for the night was £2/7/1.
Because the Vicar’s car was out of action Miss Perkins chaired the July 1937 meeting.
During 1940-41 Harold Mills was the Vicar and attended meetings.
No meetings were held between July 1941 and March 21 1946.
Meetings resumed with Rev and Mrs James present.
The new executives were president Mrs L Shields, secretary Mrs Mary Eather and treasurer Mrs J Maunder.
In June there was a presentation to Miss Perkins for her many years service to the church, as organist and guild member.
The guild also arranged to buy two dozen prayer books.
In April 1946, the guild arranged for a dance to be held in May.
Brasier’s band played with Mr Ryan as doorkeeper and Mr Les Richardson MC.
The ball in October 1948 raised a sum of £55/17/5 with attendees dancing to the Davenports orchestra.
On April 8, 1950 the guild catered for Leslie Richardson’s wedding.
In 1953 the Guild farewelled Rev W J Richards who returned to England.
In 1954 they welcomed Rev Brian Thomas and also catered for the wedding of Norm McGinnity and Shirley Eather. Rev Thomas and his wife moved to Barraba in 1957.
In 1958 two collection bowls were purchased, one in memory of Mr Eyke and one for Miss E Perkins and were dedicated by Rev Myhill-Taylor.
The new minister Rev H Taylor arrived in April 1959.
Mrs J Maunder retired in 1962 after 17 years as treasurer and was replaced by Mrs R Eather.
In 1963 Members attended a meeting in Boggabri to start Meals on Wheels.
Lucy Kensit’s memories of Meals on Wheels were – “My first introduction to MOW was when Rev Harry Taylor asked members of the St Clement’s Guild and the CWA to join a roster to help deliver meals to the needy or aged folk in the Boggabri area.”
A quote was sought from A Urquhart in 1964 for padded and polished kneelers.
Congratulations were also sent to Miss Ona Stewart on reaching the age of 106.
Rev Taylor was farewelled in 1966.
Denzil France advised on the type of organ to purchase and later a special meeting had a quote of £422 for a new organ.
Mr and Mrs H Clark offered an interest free loan to purchase the organ.
The Narrabri Courier on April 28, 1966 reported – St Clement’s Church of England Women’s Guild at Baan Baa is considering the purchase of a new organ for the church.
The suggestion was made by Mrs H Clark at a recent guild meeting.
Members were told the present organ was more than 50 years old and was ‘extremely temperamental.’
The meeting received the idea with enthusiasm, and many helpful suggestions towards raising the necessary funds were discussed.’
Rev Laurie Seymour arrived in the parish.
In 1969 a confirmation lunch was held in the hall for Ros Lennox, Lucy Eather, Sharon Lennox, John Kensit, Stephen Lennox, Peter McLean, Warren Piper and Don McLean.
The last minute book was not available.
Baan Baa guild merged with Boggabri in approximately 2000.
After the centenary service, the congregation gathered at the Baan Baa Hotel to enjoy lunch and to reminisce.
To order photos from this page click here
