In early September 1924, an article in the Warwick Daily News chronicled a beginning in the life of a new church for the Parish of St Mark’s, Warwick, on an historically significant site. It read: “For some time past a movement has been on foot for the erection of a church building at Maryvale in connection with the Church of England… The ceremony of capping the foundation block of the church will take place on Monday next in connection with the picnic which is to be held at Maryvale by the Sunday Schools (sic) associated with the Church of England.” (WDN, Tuesday 2nd September 1924 - Diocesan Archives).

The foundation block was blessed on Monday the 8th of September 1924 and work on the church commenced swiftly. The church was designed by Mr Shedden Adam, an architect based in Sydney. It was built by Mr Inglis of Killarney, who was warmly praised by the Rector, The Rev’d William Glover when the church was dedicated to St Alban (the first martyr of the Church in Britain) less than six months later, on Sunday 22nd of February 1925. That Service was presided over by His Grace, the Archbishop of Brisbane, The Most Rev’d Dr Gerald Sharp, who had never been to Maryvale before (though he expressed interest in returning for a confirmation - a broad hint to the Rector!).

The Rev’d Glover provided an interesting insight into costs at the time, saying “the contract price of the building had been £520. Extras had run into another £30 and with furnishings, including an organ, the total cost was about £700. Of this amount over £400 had been received in cash and a diocesan loan of £200 on easy terms had been arranged. With the offering that had been received that day and other promises, the church would be clear of debt with the exception of the loan and he was confident that this would soon be paid off.” (WDN, Monday 23rd February 1925 -Diocesan Archives) Indeed, this proved to be the case and with local support including a Maryvale Fete, we understand St Alban’s debt was entirely paid by 1929, after which time St Alban’s would have been consecrated.

As I reflected in the opening, this humble little church stands on land that is significant in the history of the Diocese of Brisbane. St Alban’s is located “on the site where Arnold Wienholt had built his homestead (also called Maryvale Station), and it was in 1852 that the late Canon Glennie, before Warwick was a Parish, had held there what was probably the first church service on the Downs, and had afterwards held many services in the same place.” (Rev’d WP Glover in the WDN, Monday 23rd February 1925 -Diocesan Archives, italics mine) By 1925, Maryvale Station was no more, having been purchased by the government in 1908 and broken up, whereupon “the homestead was used for a variety of community purposes: church services, lodging, school and community centre. It was sold in 1913 and dismantled in 1914. Some of the material was later used to build a house at Tregony. The Anglican church purchased the land in 1921.” (source: http://www.chapelhill.homeip.net/FamilyHistory/Photos/Maryvale_HomesteadSt_Albans/Homestead.html)

One hundred years is a momentous occasion, but what the available records show is that there has been an Anglican presence in the area now known as Maryvale for 173 years, likely the first church community on the Darling Downs. While we acknowledge that this is not quite as old as the recent celebrations marking Warwick East State School’s 175th anniversary, it is significant nonetheless!

St Alban’s is much as it was in 1925. There have been various coats of paint and roof repairs, but still our site in Maryvale is what might now be very fashionably “off-grid” being without electricity, water or sewerage! It occupies a beautiful part of God’s world on several acres of elevated ground above Maryvale Creek, looking east toward Cunningham’s Gap. It is always the people rather than the building that truly make the church what it is though, and over the past century (and more) we have greeted many families at regular worship, Sunday Schools and for baptisms and confirmations. The clergy and congregation have celebrated weddings and marked funerals, caring always for those who have come through our doors to pray, to worship and to find comfort. Features of our current church include hosting the Parish’s annual St Francis Day Service – where pets and livestock are free to join us in an outdoor Service – and regular Pub Lunch fellowship following church at Maryvale’s Crown Hotel.

In the varied, colourful and sometimes controversial history of settlement across the Darling Downs, the faithful congregation that became St Alban’s Anglican Church has long played its part in shaping the community we know and love, among the stunning blue foothills of the Great Dividing Range.Happy Birthday, St Alban’s! With blessings, prayers and peace – The Venerable EL Gaitskell MThStuds, GDTh, BRTP (Rector, 2019- )