Church-goers say farewell to St Clement’s at Baan Baa

It was with heavy hearts that Baan Baa members of the St Clement’s Anglican Church attended the deconsecration of the church on Sunday, May 22.

Clergy and people gathered to bring to a fitting close the ministries of the Word and Sacrament that have been conducted in St Clement’s Baan Baa for a period of more than 103 years and to deconsecrate the building.

The service was conducted by the Bishop of the Armidale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Rod Chiswell. St Barnabas Community Church minister, Rev. Nick Stone assisted the bishop along with Steve Eather.

The Baan Baa people were supported by Boggabri parishioners at the service, many of whom remember fondly the many activities that have taken place over the years.

The bishop said, “It is always sad to deconsecrate a church and we know that many will feel a sense of loss. While today may be sad in some ways with the church building closing, it is by no means the end of the ministry of the Anglican Church in Baan Baa.”

“The ministries of word, sacrament and fellowship will continue in other churches in the Parish, and the mission of the grace of God seen in Jesus Christ will continue in the homes and lives of faithful Christian people.”

“We pray that you will be comforted by the knowledge that the presence of God is not tied to any place or building.”

Steve Eather read the Declaration of Secularization.

Mr Eather also prepared a brief history of the church which was read by the bishop.

Mr Eather said he was not sure when the first Anglican church was built, but as the railway came through in 1883, taking a path away from the river where the main road had followed between Boggabri and Narrabri and that in 1885 the Baan Baa School was officially started, it is presumed it was in the intervening years that the first church was built.

It burnt down prior to the building of the current church in 1918/19.

Other buildings suffered the same fate with the original wooden hotel, one of the school buildings, the bakery and one of the stores which had been the butchery.

Sadly, during the building of the church, one of the builders fell to his death, whilst working on the lining of the ceiling.

Research by The Courier from the Boggabri Museum records and Mr Eather’s research 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. 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. 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 C. A. Hudson and H. E. 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 here they met up with 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 September 6, 1915, and erected at the original church. It was erected on two wooded posts.

The present bell tower was erected in the 1980s 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.

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 porch table was donated in memory of Cec 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 thirty first, 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, 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 C.W.A. had bought their own crockery.

The 1934 autumn ball was held with entry costs as 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, 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.

Narrabri Courier, 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 Women’s Guild were very active and Mr Eather has the treasurer’s port with all the statements, reports and receipts etc.

Baan Baa guild merged with Boggabri in approximately 2000.

Mr Eather said, “Many of us have fond memories of the local post mistress, Miss Smithers teaching us Sunday School, then bringing our kids here as well.”

He also said that he and his dad, Richard aka Dick Eather were confirmed on the same day in this church.

Fortnightly services were held for a long-time being part of the Boggabri parish and later as numbers dwindled, services came back to monthly services.

There was a period of four years when no services were held and over the past four years, Easter and Christmas services have been the only services held.

Judy Maunder has had a long association with the church.

When she married her husband Frank, 60 years ago next month, and moved to Baan Baa, she started attending St Clement’s. Mrs Maunder has also been the organist for many years.

Len Shields lives next door to the church and was baptised, confirmed and married on June 15, 1957, and was happily married for 50 years.

He has also kept the grounds mowed and tidy for 50 years.

It is sad to see the church being deconsecrated and its time in service to our Lord being ended, but as a building I’m looking forward to it being renovated and being useful again,” Mr Eather said.

The church is being offered for sale through a local agency.