AFTER a hectic 18 months, St Mark’s Anglican Church celebrated its 80th anniversary with a packed congregation at a special service on August 12.
Bishop Tom Wilmot conducted the service assisted by Reverend Carol Whitcombe from Bakers Hill.
During the service the bishop confirmed local girl Amy Bachelor.
The service must have been a huge relief for the parish council.
Damaged in the 1968 Meckering earthquake, the church was declared unsafe in February 2010 and a despondent congregation was told it would cost up to $700,000 to repair – well beyond the parish’s means.
However on January 13 last year respected engineer Peter Airey told the people’s warden Murray Packham the church was not unsafe and it would cost only about $80,000 to repair.
Murray died two days later and his funeral was the first service to be held in St Mark’s after it was declared safe.
His wife Lorraine took over the role of parish secretary/treasurer and was a prime mover in obtaining funds for the church’s repair.
“We put up $20,000 in cash and $6000 in kind,” Lorraine said.
“And $71,000 came from the Lotteries Commission.
“We are just waiting for our heritage builder to come.”
Lorraine estimated the congregation at nearly 100.
After the service a lunch was held at the lesser hall.
The parish catered for the event with major input coming from the former owner of the hotel Michael Greenwood and people’s warden Albert Fourie.
