Old Friary — the continuing story
Reflections
“The Old Friary has been a sanctuary and a place to pray, find peace in beautiful grounds or to escape from the world. By supporting the initiatives of The Parish of Kenmore-Brookfield at the Old Friary, you can help continue the story,” says Vivienne Binns
The Old Friary — ministry update
Did you know that the heritage-listed Old Friary Chapel continues as part of The Parish of Kenmore-Brookfield? This Franciscan site still offers worship services every Sunday evening at 5.30 pm in the beautiful Chapel of St Mary, St Francis and St Clare.
The liturgical tradition instigated in the 1990s by The Rev’d David Binns under the Brookfield Centre for Spirituality endures. Everyone is welcome! Forms of worship are:
1st Sunday of Month: Taize-style
2nd Sunday of Month: Eucharist
3rd Sunday of Month: Contemplative/Labyrinth
4th Sunday of Month: Agape (shared meal)
5th Sunday of Month: Reflective/Labyrinth
The art created by The Rev’d David Binns, which is noted in the heritage citation, remains an integral part of the chapel and provides a focus for quiet prayer and meditation.
Other initiatives on the spiritual journey of the Old Friary are outlined below. But first its Franciscan beginnings…
Vivienne Binns, Virginia Hasker and Sim Hasker (Old Friary worshipping community members), Claire Allen (front left) and Blake Allen (Hasker grandchildren) and The Rev’d Sandra Kjellgren (Chaplain) at the Old Friary on Sunday 9 July 2023
Anglican History — Men’s home, boarding school, Franciscan Friary, Centre for Spirituality
The history of the site is well known to many in our Diocese. It has nurtured many people over the 90 years since The Rev’d Robert Bates, Rector of All Saints’, Wickham Terrace, known as a farmer-priest, first purchased the property in 1932. The Rev’d Bates was the founder of the Anglican Franciscan Communities in Australia, under which he formed the Daughters of St Clare to care for elderly people.
He soon opened St John’s House of Rest in the existing extraordinarily large farmhouse on this site, but the residents found it too isolated and the men’s home was moved to West Toowong. In 1934 The Rev’d Bates continued his charitable work by forming a farm school on the site for disadvantaged boys called St Christopher’s Lodge, with the Daughters of St Clare nuns in brown habits helping to care for the boys.
In 1955 The Rev’d Bates died and the school closed. However, many of the students have returned to St Christopher’s over the years to reflect on their experiences. It’s widely recognised by these students that the time spent at St Christopher’s remained a positive influence on their lives, with some acknowledging that the site held spiritual significance for them.
The Rev’d Bates hoped that the Franciscan Friars would come to Australia to found an Australian base for their work with disadvantaged people. Ten years after his death, the first Brothers of the Society of St Francis arrived in Australia from the UK and the site became their Friary for the next 22 years. The famous Friars had a strong following in the community and cared for many through their social work programmes. Eventually they diversified and left the site in 1987.
The Rev’d David Binns soon paved the way for the site to become the Brookfield Centre for Christian Spirituality, which opened in 1991. Spirituality workshops and Anglican school retreat days were held in addition to many other events, along with the site being used as a venue by the broader community.
In 2021 this property was sold to the Uniting Church’s Blue Care for the extension of their Iona Retirement Village. The intended project, however, is currently on hold.
Spiritual direction
The Diocesan Spiritual Direction Formation Program was founded at the Old Friary through the work of The Rev’d David Binns, assisted by The Rev’d John Stewart from the Diocese of Melbourne and the Rev’d Philip Carter from the Julian Centre in Adelaide. The program has since relocated to St Francis College in Milton, Brisbane.
Spiritual direction is still available at the Old Friary by appointment. Trained spiritual directors, having graduated from this Anglican program, give of their time to carry out this important work. Spiritual direction helps to deepen our personal relationship with God by helping to define how God is working and calling us in our daily lives.
To make a booking, please contact the office of The Parish of Kenmore-Brookfield on 0458 075 377.
Vivienne Binns (Old Friary worshipping community member) and The Rev’d Sandra Kjellgren (Chaplain) at the Old Friary on Sunday 9 July 2023
Old Friary labyrinth
The ancient practice of walking a labyrinth became popular in Christianity in the Middle Ages. It is a meandering path, leading to a centre, which is used as a walking meditation. The Old Friary labyrinth is set in a tranquil green space adjacent to the chapel.
To spend a morning in meditation and stillness, you are invited to an upcoming workshop, Meditation and Praying with a Labyrinth, on Saturday 22 July 2023 between 9am and 12.30pm. The theme for the day is “Divine Appointments”. Commencing with an introduction to Christian Meditation by Joanna Lawrence, Randal and Susan Dennings* will then lead in praying the Labyrinth. The meditation will focus on St Mary Magdalene as it will be held on her Feast Day. All are welcome to join in exploring the opportunities afforded by Christian meditation on the Old Friary Labyrinth. Please RSVP by 19 July to Meredith Nicholls via meredithnich7@gmail.com or on 0401 881 603.
Sim Hasker, Claire Allen, Vivienne Binns, Blake Allen, Virginia Hasker and The Rev’d Sandra Kjellgren praying the labyrinth at the Old Friary on Sunday 9 July 2023
How can you help?
The Old Friary has been a sanctuary and a place to pray, find peace in beautiful grounds or to escape from the world.
By supporting the initiatives of The Parish of Kenmore-Brookfield at the Old Friary, you can help continue the story. You are also invited to become a Friend of the Old Friary — please visit the Old Friary website for more information.
This Franciscan site lives on, remaining a sacred space in which to find peace and be with God.
(*Labyrinth Facilitators are Veriditas Certified and SEQ Anglican Labyrinth Resource Group Coordinators.)
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