Helensburgh Anglican Church

Rev. David Hayes 1954-1955

Rev. Ashcroft filled in until the appointment of the new rector, Rev. David Hayes. He was instituted to the Provisional Parish in 1954 by Rev. Begbie, Archdeacon of Camden. His stay was a short one due to family problems.

Services continued as usual with an increase at Helensburgh, 8.00am, 11.00am and 7.15pm. The organizations continued as usual: Mothers' Union, Sunday School, GFS, Bible Study.....

Sadly the white ants continued their work and complaints to the exterminators brought no response. The old vestry was altered and turned into a Baptistry in 1954 and repairs on the building continued. Old Mr. Barrett had died and Mrs. Barrett gave a pair of candlesticks in his memory in 1954. The candlesticks still stand on the credence table to this day, but as the churchmanship had moved downward, they were never used.

Identities of the time are as follows: Church Committee members, Mrs. Coffee, Stevenson, Weaver, Pell, Fairbairn, Kinnell, Hindmarsh, Dennett and Green, and Mr. Coffee the station master, Geoff Cox, Mr. Williams who owned the Park store, Mr. Steele of Stanwell Tops who ran a Sunday School in his home. Mr Styles who owned the store in Postman's Track, Mr. Hammonds a tech. teacher, Mr. Short who worked for the railways at the metropolitan signal box, and Mr. Murray of Otford. Church Wardens were Mr. Styles, East and Hammonds. The Mothers' Union had 15 members in 1957, Mrs. East, Hindmarsh, Pell, Hammonds, Stevenson, Coffee and Green. The Sunday School was still run by Mrs. Stevenson, although she retired in 1955, handing over to Mrs. East and Mr. McMaker. Other identities in the church were Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Bell, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. & Mrs. Taylor, Miss Illingworth , Miss Nell Stevenson, Mr. & Mrs. Fairbother, Mrs. Luck, George Barrett, Mr. & Mrs. Greenway. The Woman's Guild was run by Mrs. Coffee. GFS was led by Mrs. Coffee, East and Luck. CEBS was run by Kevin Sims. The Table Tennis club was led by Harry Short. Organists were Mrs. Kinnell and Mrs. East. Caretaking under the watchful eye of Mrs. Pell. At Otford the regulars were Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. & Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Vardey, and Mrs. Schubert. At Waterfall, Mr. Jackson was the leading light.

Rev. Herbert William Robey, 1955-1957

Herb Robey, with his wife and three children Paul, Philip and Rosemary, became the next Curate in Charge of the Provisional district of Helensburgh. He was instituted in February 1955 by Archdeacon Begbie. Twelve ministers were present, including the local Presbyterian and Methodist ministers.

Herb was a strong Evangelical and a systematic Bible teacher. His main hobby, bicycle racing, stood him in good stead for the local Helensburgh races. The circuit around Parkes St, Walker St, Lawrence Hargraves Drive and Princess Highway was the regular race track, but increased use of the highway caused the suspension of the races. Herb had served in WW2 and then entered the printing trade. He had been an active trade unionist and so stood well with the miners. He was 38 when he left Moore College and came to Helensburgh.

The congregation under Rev. Robey concentrated on getting the gospel out into the district. To this end the Sunday School at Otford was revived. Mr. Steel expanded the Sunday School at Stanwell Tops. At helensburgh Herb started a small bus run picking up the children from West Helensburgh, the Nissen Huts and the Housing Commission. A student deaconess, Miss Hepper, was hired for visitation work in 1955, and two missions in 1956 and 57. Don Robinson of Moore Theological College led the first mission team of students. Week-long services and meetings were held with the students visiting the town and outlying centers. The second mission in May 1957 was also carried out by Moore College students and this time led by Owen Dykes. it was part of a large South Coast mission. Local activities and visiting culminated with a final mission meeting at the Wollongong Town hall where Bernie Gook spoke. The students were billeted out during their stay in Helensburgh.

The church finances again went into decline. Only half the expenditure was supplied by offertories which were around $8 per week. The 1955 fete raised $200 with the kitchen stall run by Mrs. Green and Mrs. Kinnell raising seventeen pounds 7/9 ($34.78). Even an HMS grant of $200 didn't help to meet the deficit. Even so the deteriorating condition of the church building prompted the establishment of another building fund in 1956 with Mrs. Cox's mile of threepences. The fund grew despite all the financial troubles. Even the mission societies continued to be supported. The attendances at Helensburgh indicated the state of the problem. The 7.15pm service was so badly attended that on some evenings no one was present. In 1957 the services were again reduced to two, 11.15am and 7.15pm.

In 1956 Mrs. Stevenson, after so many devoted years to the Sunday School, finally resigned. Also during this period some of the old identities passed away. Mr. & Mrs. Thickett who had retired to Stanwell Park, and Mr. & Mrs. Rusfeldt. A Communion Cloth was crocheted by Miss Short in memory of Mrs. Thickett. It was dedicated in September 1957 by Rev. Feltham of Austinmer. In the same year Mr. & Mrs. Styles left for Queensland. Mr. Styles was a faithful member, as was Mrs. Styles to the Roman church. They were greatly missed.

Herb and his family were invited by the Archbishop to accept an appointment to Riverstone and to take up his duties there at the beginning of June 1957. Herb was to have a long and faithful ministry, serving with great distinction in the Brisbane diocese and retiring in Canberra.

Rev. Thomas William Butler, 1958-1962

The financial situation now facing the district prompted a review of the situation at head office. In the meantime the Waterfall Church came to its fiery end. After a full examination of finances it was decided to incorporate the Helensburgh district, other than Stanwell Park which was placed with Austinmer, into the new Provisional District of Engadine. Tom Butler with his wife and children Ruth and Ann came to Helensburgh in 1958. His background of strict, austere Protestantism in South Africa made it difficult for him to relate to easy going Australians. A new rectory was purchased in Engadine in 1959 and soon the old Helensburgh rectory was abandoned. Helensburgh and Waterfall received only limited representation on the new Parish Council. It was all a natural consequence of the decline of the Helensburgh district and the new housing boom at Engadine.

The services at Helensburgh were soon reduced from two to one. They alternated between 11am and 7.15pm. Numbers attending were now about 40, but they were on the decline. Children's Concerts, Socials, GFS and CEBS all closed, although the other church groups and activities continued as usual. In 1961 the fete was held in the RSL hall.

The main project facing the Helensburgh church was the condition of the church building. Little could now be done to save it. The building fund in 1960 had reached over $1,200. Money boxes were distributed throughout the town and support for a new building remained strong. In 1961 a sub-committee was formed to investigate building plans and ideas were circulated amongst the congregation. Thank heavens that one plan for a concrete block building was never accepted. In 1962 the Archbishop was approached for permission to demolish the church.

In the face of these growing difficulties the congregation retained its sense of community. In 1960 a special thanksgiving tea was held for the remaining three faithfuls: Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Stevenson, and Mrs. Pell. In 1962 Mrs. Kinnell the church organist was remembered in a presentation to her from the congregation.

Maintenance of the church property continued under the watchful eye of Ken Hammonds. Fire damage to the rectory was repaired, new curtains placed in the hall and the third block cleared. In 1960 the Broughton's moved into the rectory. John, a teacher, was soon involved in Sunday school and later served as a lay reader and committee member. He also took a leading role in church youth work and the scouts.

A youth group had developed during Herb Robey's time and struggled through to around 1960. The Presbyterians and the Methodists also had struggling groups. The kids themselves decided to form a united fellowship and from that time on the group flourished. Margaret Senescall was the leader at the time of the union and Narelle Sellar became the leader and continued until she left for Bible College in the mid 60's. Ambassadors, an American based youth Evangelism group, had purchased land at Stanwell Tops and built in 1962. The site is now owned by the Church of Christ and used for conferences. Staff became very much involved in the Helensburgh youth group, especially Reg Locke and Roger Warner. The group held regular camps, socials and outings to youth rallys. Meetings were held on Sunday evenings and consisted of chorus singing, prayers, Bible readings and a speaker. Some of the leading lights were Rhonda Smith, Irene and Glenda Perry, Shirly Sims, Lyn Gash, Edwina Adlington, Bronwyn and David Secescall, Bill, Caroyln and Lee Werry, Cheryl Loudon, Barbara Coffee, Paul and Derek Sanders.... The group folded in the late 60's as the older members left to get married etc. A solid group of committed believers emerged from the group and are members of the local churches today.

Services at Waterfall continued monthly in private homes, but were now controlled from Engadine. Services at Otford ceased in 1962, the land for a new church was held in trust, but the building fund ceased.

Stanwell Park continued strongly. Services were held weekly at 11am with a 10am family service once a month. Attendances were around the 30 mark. Now with Austinmere, the Park congregation continued to develop a strong independent streak, threatening at time to run the show by themselves. Finances were on the up. Offertories in 1947 were $200 per annum. In 1960 $250, 1964 $640. The ladies ran an annual sale and street stalls raising $220 in 1965. The bottle and scrap drive raised $160 in 1965 toward the building fund. - This fund commenced in 1964 with the sale of 1/- brick cards. By the end of the year some $800 had been raised toward the fund, with a total of $3,400 held in kitty by 1967. The fund sought to extend the existing building to increase the worship area and the rear hall area. The existing building was still in good shape and widely used by the local community. The school would periodically use the rear hall for a class room and the worship area was even used as a doctors surgery for a time. The roof was resheeted in 1963 after a massive hailstorm. In 1958 the wardens were E.L. Murray, Norm O'Brien and Arthur Short. Sunday School teachers in 1961 were Mr. & Mrs. Collins, Miss Anger, Miss Davies and Miss Chappel. Other identities were Mr. & Mrs. Water who left in 1963, Miss Potter, Mr. Adams, Miss Murray the organist, Mrs. Anger, Mr. & Mrs. Chappell, Mrs. Kemp and Mrs. O'Brien, later the Church secretary, Miss Judith Short who later led the Sunday School and played the organ, Miss Potter, Miss Shore, Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Fairweather, Mrs. Watmuff, Mrs. Orton, Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Shubert, Mr. & Mrs. Rutter, Mr. & Mrs. Hickling, Mrs. Rivers.

Helensburgh & District Historical Society
P.O. Box 150 Helensburgh N.S.W. Australia - Email: info@historichelensburgh.org.au