Gippsland Times 22 9 1882 St Paul’s Church
A meeting of the parishioners of the Church of England was held on Tuesday evening, His Lordship the Bishop of Melbourne, being present. The Rev. Canon Watson who presided, explained that the object of the meeting was to take into consideration the advisability of erecting a new Church on a more central site. He stated, that tenders had been called for the completion of the present Church, and they had been found to be so high that the idea was abandoned. He had hoped to be in a position to place plans before them, for a new Church, but through some misfortune they had not arrived. The present movement was in consequence of the large amount required for the completion of the present Church, and he thought the same amount might be more judiciously expended in the erection of a new Church in a more central site.
Mr Bushe was of opinion that the present Church was in an inconvenient position, (built where St Anne's campus of Gippsland Grammar is now) and advocated the erection of a new one on a portion of the market reserve. He moved, “That the congregation approve of the action of the Board of Guardians, to secure a portion of the market reserve to build a new Church.”
Mr Abbott, in seconding the motion, endorsed the remarks of Mr Bushe.
The Bishop said that he was not in a position to express any decided views on the subject, but he had felt, on repeated visits to Sale, that something ought to be done. He thought the old portion of the present building was discreditable to such a place as Sale. He had seen the plan of the proposed church, and if it realised his expectations it would be a better building than the present one. Although there existed a diversity of opinion, he thought the present movement would have a beneficial effect. Some people, he knew, believed in old associations and remembrances, and would like to see the present church retained, but the antiquity of Australia, he said, was nothing more than that of yesterday and today. Three things were essential in a church, viz: utility, beauty, and antiquity. Sale, he said, could not extend beyond the swamps at the south, therefore the present site would never be a useful one. His experience of the Australian people was, that they looked upon a ten minutes walk to church as laborious, and that they had a decided objection to hot winds and rain. From that point of beauty he thought the new church would surpass the present one, therefore both these things favoured a move. It had been found that it would cost more to complete the present building than build a new one, and in the face of this he thought they would do well to move, although he professed no knowledge himself on the point, yet he had great faith in Mr Bushe's opinion, as he (Mr Bushe) was an old resident and a practical man. He strongly urged them to consider the matter well with a view of coming to a practical end, and whatever decision they arrived at to set about carrying it into effect at once. Mr Staveley asked how the estimate of £3,100 for the erection of a new church had been arrived at. Canon Watson explained that it was taken from a similar church in Geelong.
Mr Staveley took exception to the remarks of the Bishop in reference to the state of the present church. What they wanted to do was simply to carry out the original design, which, he maintained, was a good one. He was opposed to any decision being arrived at in the absence of plans, as they might find themselves in the same position as they were when tenders were called for the completion of the present church, vis, find the tenders far exceed the estimates. Personally, a church in the neighbourhood of the market square would suit him better than the present one, as all his interest in the town lie in that direction, but, he maintained, that the new portion of the present church was a success, although the old portion was, no doubt, a disgrace and should be removed, but in the absence of plans it would be premature to remove the present site. He moved as an amendment, “That, as the plans for the new church have not been received, the consideration of the altering the site and the erection of a new church be deferred until the plans be open for inspection for, at least, one month.”
The Bishop said, for the sake of promoting discussion, he would second the amendment. He regretted the absence of the plans, and asked if any one present could tell him whether the cost of building was more now than it was some eight years ago when the Geelong church was built.
Mr J. G. Pettit in reply to His Lordship said that the cost of erecting the transept and chancel of the present church was £1,700, and he was certain the contractor made money out of it, and he could not see how the completion of the church could possibly cost the amounts that appeared on the tenders sent in. In conjunction with Mr T. Guthridge, he had drawn up an estimate for a new church, and they found that a building to provide sitting accommodation for about 160 more than the present one could be built for £3,500.
Mr G. Bird advocated the erection of a new church, more centrally situated. He said they must remember that they had to provide for posterity as well as for the present generation. Shakespeare said, “there is a tide in the affairs of man, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” He said that now was the time to take this tide at the flood, as money was plentiful, and they should at once proceed in the matter.
Mr Staveley thought the congregation were being rushed into a thing that in calmer moments they might have cause to regret. (cries of No, no.) He had every confidence in the information supplied by Mr Pettit, who said that the new portion of the present church only cost £1,700, and as that portion consisted of two thirds of the original design, he could not see how the remaining one-third would cost more. He thought some mistake must have been made in the tenders sent in.
The Bishop asked Mr Staveley if he did not think the additional accommodation provided in the new church would be an advantage.
Mr Staveley replied yes, provided there were people enough to fill them, his experience was that the accommodation provided by the present church was ample.
Mr Coverdale agreed with Mr Staveley, he thought it was premature to rush into a new scheme before they found out where the money was to come from to carry it out. He thought the present church should be restored. If the new church was started and they found they had not funds sufficient to complete it they would then be worse off than they were at present. At the present time the building trade was in such a flourishing condition that contractors would not accept work except at a very high price.
Canon Watson, for the information of the meeting, stated that the money in hand amounted to £400. The value of the material in the present church was estimated at £700. The profit on the sale of the land after purchasing the new site was estimated at £300. Promised subscriptions amounted to £800 making a total of £2,200, and the balance, he said might easily be borrowed.
The Bishop said he was pleased to see the thing argued on both sides, and hoped that nothing would be done that they might afterwards regret. If the plans had been present he should certainly have urged them on to build a new church, as he believed they would be within the mark at £3,500, and the fittings of the present church could be utilised so that no extra cost could be entailed in that direction. He asked Mr Bushe to make the following addition to his motion: - “That on the understanding that the new church cost £3,500, and provide at least 150 more sittings than the present building, the congregation approve of the action of the Board of Guardians in seeking to obtain a portion of the market reserve, on which to build a new church.”
Mr Bushe having signified his willingness, Canon Watson proceeded to put the amendment and motion to the meeting, and the latter declared carried.
Sergeant Scanlon proposed and Mr Staveley seconded, "that the thanks of the congregation be accorded to the Bishop for his attendance at the meeting." – carried.
The Bishop then pronounced the Benediction, and the meeting closed.
