anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

Records and Archives Centre

People & History Opening and consecration of St Saviour's Anglican Church People & History

Rediscovering forgotten history – why parish records are so important

“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

Features Sir John Goodwin Features

Implementation of Records and Archives Centre digitisation plan

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

This ceremonial silver trowel was returned to the Anglican Church Southern Queensland in March 2022
Features

Antique silver ceremonial trowel returned to our Diocese

“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

Features

Cathedral foundation stone: celebrating 120 years

“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

Features

New Guinea Martyr: The Rev’d John Barge

“As a student at St Francis Theological College, and as a new priest engaged in Curacy at St James’, given responsibility for the daughter church of St Thomas’, North Toowoomba, The Rev’d Barge was remembered by many in our Diocese,” says Archives Researcher, Adrian Gibb

Features

Why the Diocesan shepherd lost his halo

The image of the shepherd as the primary symbol of our Diocese was established when our first Bishop was consecrated in 1859. What many don’t know is that in the mid-1950s, the motif changed from a ‘Good Shepherd’, an image of Christ with a halo, to a simple shepherd representing pastoral care. Why this occurred was considered somewhat a mystery, until now