

“A recent case where history was thought to have been lost, but has been rediscovered, is the early church registers for St James’, Toowoomba. Up to a few months ago, it was thought that this church’s early registers were destroyed in a flood caused by burst water pipes under the original rectory where records were then stored. However, it turns out that the registers were not lost,” says Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers
Since early 2021, with the advice and guidance of the Records and Archives Committee, I have been implementing a plan to digitise key Records and Archives Centre series. This plan goes beyond the old and interesting records in the collection – although these are being prioritised as well – and includes records that are business-critical to the continued operation of the Church,” says Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers
“The staff at St Martin’s House reception received a pleasant surprise in late March when a small, but special, piece of our history was returned to our Diocese. A silver ceremonial trowel, housed in a simple wooden box, is linked to an important part of Maryborough’s history,” says Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers
“Hearing of the forthcoming visit to Australia by the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary), Bishop Webber arranged for the royal couple to attend the ceremonial laying of our Cathedral’s foundation stone,” says Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers
“Today, St Martin’s House still serves a vital role for the Cathedral and our wider Diocesan community. Its role as a hospital ceased in 1971, and after much debate about its future, it was renovated and is now used as office space for our Archbishop, Regional Bishops and clergy and staff for the Cathedral and various Commissions. However, there are still some mysteries that my research is yet to solve,” says Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers
Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers illustrates the value of Registers of Services, with a focus on famous sculptor Voitre Marek and St Alban’s, Cunnamulla, while also inviting parishes in our Diocese to take digital images of interiors and exteriors of their churches for submission to the Records and Archives Centre
“Canon Boggo Pilot continues to be remembered today for his courage, brilliance, missionary zeal, pastoral heart, joyful spirit, vision, work ethic and commitment to preserving his people’s culture,” says Diocesan Archivist Michael Rogers, as the 150th anniversary of The Coming of the Light approaches
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