140 years later ... a brief history (From Cathedral Scene October 1982)
In the early 1840's the Anglican community of Flooding Creek (Sale) held services in the Woolpack Inn and the old Court House. Services were led by the Rev. E.G. Price, who travelled from Manaro (NSW) to Tarraville for occasional visits. During these journeys, he held services in the tiny community of Flooding Creek.
The first incumbent was the Rev. P.K. Simmons, who arrived in late 1854, and was licensed to be in charge of the parish. At first there was no clergy house, and Mr Simmons stayed at Mewburn Park, near Maffra.
In those early days, the parish included Rosedale, Lindenow, Bairnsdale, Stratford, Boisdale and Sale.
In the growing community of Sale, the need for a permanent church building became apparent. The history of the parish written in 1904 records. "The first section of the old church was commenced in, or about, 1856."
Details of the early days are sketchy, due to loss of early records. The building was situated in Raymond Street, on the site of the present St. Anne's and Gippsland Grammar Junior School.
Bishop Perry, the first Bishop of Melbourne (and Victoria) preached and confirmed in Sale, on February 6, 1857.
The original building was extended to meet the needs of the growing Anglican population.
In 1882, the decision was made to move from the Raymond Street site, to Cunninghame Street. The land where the present Cathedral is situated, was purchased for £1150. Plans for a new building were prepared. Bishop Moorhouse from Melbourne laid the foundation stone on December 17, 1883. In late 1884 the new St. Paul's was opened, having cost £3389. The present pipe organ was purchased for £290, and placed in the church.
It was not until May 1907 that the heavy debt of the church was finally wiped out, and the building consecrated.
When Bishop A.W. Pain was enthroned as Gippsland's first bishop in 1902, St. Paul's was declared a pro- cathedral.
In 1918, it was proclaimed a Cathedral, by act of Synod.
The small wooden vestry was erected in 1908, and used as a vestry until 1982. It will now be used to display historical items.
The parish hall (now the Delbridge Hall) was built before the First World War, for £1066. In 1922, the Annie Pain Hall in Market Street, was built for£ 875. Both halls still serve the Sale parish.
Plans for a new cathedral were explored in 1927. One proposal shows the present building as extending to both the present croquet green and the present chapter house areas. However rising costs in a difficult financial time prevented these extensions.
Many improvements were made in the following years, and stained glass now replaced all plain glass in Cathedral windows. In 1957 Dean Alexander commissioned Philip Handel of Sydney to erect the window above the West Door. This window remains one of the features of the building. Philip Handel's craftsmanship is also seen in the stained glass installed since 1957.
The pipe organ has been recently restored and pews from St. John's Yallourn now replaced the old cathedral pews.
DELBRIDGE HALL
The parish hall has been used for many activities over past years, including the headquarters of the Marley Street theatre group. However it's value to the cathedral congregation was quite limited.
Under the present Chapter, the building was extended in early 1982, with the addition of toilets and new kitchen facilities. The interior has been painted, and now the hall will suit meetings of diocesan Synod, as well as parish functions.
The renovated hall was opened by the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Rev. Robert Dann during 1982 Synod. It was renamed the "Delbridge Hall", after Gippsland's late bishop, Graham Delbridge.
Modern kitchen facilities were added to the north side of the hall, enabling meals to be prepared for and served to over 100 people, with a minimum of fuss. New toilets were added to the western end of the hall.
