The Methodist Church in Engadine, 1882-1969
“The story begins back in 1882 when the Sydney Methodist Mission purchased land in the sparsely inhabited rural community of Engadine, in the vicinity of Engadine Avenue and Woronora Road. However, portions were sold over a period of time until only one block remained by 1953.
On 19th July 1953 the first Methodist service was held in the local Church of England with a congregation of 18. This service was conducted by a retired Home Missioner the late Pastor C A Lean who had made his home in Anzac Avenue in Engadine. Mr Lean volunteered to come out of retirement to serve this area on a part time basis taking services morning and evening on alternate Sundays. The late Rev Ray Noble Secretary of Home Missions chaired Quarterly Meetings.
Twelve months later services were transferred to the Institute Hall and were held every Sunday morning. About the same time definite proposals to build were adopted with the appointment of Interim Trustees by the Home Mission Department and the purchase of the present site on the corner of Cambrai and Chipilly Avenue. Local financial assistance was assured with the first meeting of the Ladies’ Church Aid in Pastor Lean’s home in August 1954.
When we briefly announce that “on 9th October 1955 the Opening and Dedication of a Methodist Church Hall by the President of Conference Rev J Sorrell took place” our thoughts go out to those pioneers who must have felt the joy that we do today.
Services were held at 11:00 am and 7:15 pm, Sunday School at 9:45 am commenced on 16th October. The building of this hall was made possible by a loan from the Woolnough Sites and Church Extension Fund of the Home Mission Department.
Our diary shows a quick development of events after 1955. By April 1956 the property was transferred to local Trustees and two years later the first Stewardship Programme was introduced. At a meeting in August 1960 the Trustees decided to set up a Church Building Fund for future development.
Pastor Lean conducted his final service at Engadine on Christmas Day 1960 and retired to Caringbah. In January 1961 Deaconess Ruby Sloan was appointed by the Home Mission Department for a period of two years to the Engadine Home Mission Station. During this time four local Preachers were trained and accredited, weekly Prayer and Bible Study Meetings were introduced and a monthly Men’s Tea was commenced. Quarterly and Trustees’ Meetings were chaired by Rev Allan Brand Secretary for Home Missions. It was during Deaconness Sloan’s ministry that the commissioning of a local girl Helen Thomas took place as a secretary in the Overseas Missions Department, being appointed to Darwin.
In August 1962 the Home Mission Department conferred with the architect to plan future development. That same year Conference decided to combine the Engadine Home Mission Station with the Helensburgh Circuit and appointed as Minister Probationer Harry Gregg who was ordained in 1965. During his ministry the Trustees decided to sell the property in Engadine Avenue and invested the money with the Property Department to be used as a deposit on a future parsonage. That Trust also decided to plan a church on the present site engaging Mr Geoffrey Gore as architect the building to be done by voluntary labour thus making a considerable saving in cost.
The following year Probationer Les Pearson was appointed and moved into the Parsonage at Helensburgh. Rev Pearson was ordained in that year 1966 and the circuit was raised to accept a minister in full connexion. As the greater part of the Church population centred in Engadine the Parsonage at Helensburgh was sold in December 1966 and the present Parsonage (Cambrai Avenue) at Engadine purchased for $13,700 the minister and family moving in on 19th December of that year.
On the 28th August 1967 the Trustees accepted the financial proposal drawn up by the Property Secretary Rev Roy Glover for the development of the Engadine property. The estimated cost of the project was $40,000. Savings of $12,000 in labour costs would leave $28,000 to be raised. It was estimated that $7,400 would be in hand by opening date leaving an amount to be borrowed of $21,000 to be repaid over 21 years. Loan money was made available from the Methodist Foundation.
On 21 st February 1968 under the leadership of Rev L A Pearson the first sod was turned and work commenced on the new buildings and on the 13th July the Foundation Stone was laid by Rev R M E Glover.
On the 9th August 1969 the Opening and Dedication of the New Church and Youth Centre by the President of the NSW Conference Rev Walter Whitbread took place.”
The Rev Les Pearson attracted media attention at the time due to his skills with the hammer. The following article from the magazine “Woman’s Day” gives an insight from the times:
Intentional design in decor
The Sanctuary Cross Probably life-sized, and of weathered texture, it is tapered as would have been the Cross of Calvary, wrought as it was from a tree. It stands free, rising naturally out of the structure of the Church and is no “tacked-on” accessory.
The Reredos Panel Constructed from hand made, red sand stock bricks reclaimed from a century-old hotel at St. Mary’s, it is symbolic of fallen mankind, reclaimed by God and given new grace and dignity through the Cross of Christ.
The Communion Table is copied from the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece “The Last Supper”. Communicants can kneel at the table itself to partake of the elements, symbolic of the sharing of grace enjoyed by sinners and saints at the Last Supper. It is a reminder that John Wesley viewed communion as a ”saving sacrament” and, for Methodists, the invitation is to an open table. The rough texture is achieved by a sand blasting process, and the rugged appearance reminds us that Jesus presided at an ordinary table in an ordinary home and transformed an ordinary meal into a perpetual feast.
The Pulpit design highlights a lectern, reminding us that its function is not to parade a preacher but to break open God’s Word, the bread of life.
The Baptismal Font is located on the congregational floor level as a sign that the first approach a person makes to the Church of Christ is through the water of baptism.
The Northern Window is symbolic of heaven and earth united through Jesus Christ. The central Chi Ro symbol was the ancient sign used by illiterate people to write the word Christ, and are the first two Greek letters of the word Christ. The trustees wrote: “This symbol is of brass, reminding us of the non-corroding fact of the Gospel which is Christ. The Orb of earth contains the colours of the world, both land and sea, while the orb of heaven has the appearance gold. Yet a closer look will reveal that some of the colours of earth are found in the orb of heaven, and vice-versa, for the Son of God was also the Son of Man and ultimately the temporary distinctions will pass away and Christ will rule in every heart.”
The External Grille incorporates a concrete cross which is in fact a structural member. The grille fulfills the practical function of shading the interior from the low hot sun. The trustees considered that God had built the Cross into the structure of the world, strengthening the frail and supporting the weak; its shadow saving both church and people man from being consumed by the heat vicious ambition.”
The Porch Windows incorporate sand-blasted figures which were originally sepia-coloured but are now faded to white after a half-century of sun.
The lower window (right) is based on the theme “Symbols of God and Humankind”. The trustees wrote, “The tractor and factory represents man’s industries and the aircraft, man’s technological achievements”. This design is very much a product of its time and has not aged particularly well in a time of human-induced climate change from carbon emissions.
The upper window (left) has fared a little better, and features a dove, fish, chalice, bread and grapes. The fish was the secret sign of the early Christians, while the loaf, wheat, grapes and the chalice are symbolic of the sacraments. The dove is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
