St Andrews Alvie

St Andrews Timeline

St Andrews - Alvie early 1900's

Inside St Andrews - Alvie early 1900's

St Andrews - Alvie Choir early 1900's

1893	The first church service at Alvie conducted by Rev. J.E.F. May (vicar of Colac) in the Alvie State School (built on Thomas Carmichael Murray's Warrion Estate).

The first regular church service is taken by ? Mr Lermsdew "Reader in Charge of Beeac" (services continue to be held in the Alvie State School).

1895

The Memorial Stone is laid by Mrs R.S. Murray of Wool Wool on the 24/10. Approximately 100 persons present and the service is taken by Rev. Mr Kirkland of St John’s Colac. The building is dedicated to the memory of the late Andrew and Elizabeth Murray.

The architect of the church was Alexander Hamilton of Colac.

The building which is of the early English Gothic style is constructed of brick on a stone foundation. Bishop S. Thornton (of Ballarat) dedicated St Andrews on the 24/10.

Oak furniture for St Andrews comes from Anglican Church in Camperdown

1896	The first baptism at St Andrews is for J. W. Eason held on the19/1

First Confirmation is held on the 8/11 conducted by Bishop H Cooper of five males and three females including Henry, Laura and Emma Bridle.

First marriage in St Andrews is held on the 25/6 Miss Mary Buckle and Mr Andrew McKay.

Alvie’s first organist is Mrs Calvert of Dreeite.

The first Honorary Secretary is Allan Stepnell.

First Sunday School teachers include Miss Whistler, Miss Rees, Miss Bridle and Miss Harman.

1899	St Andrews Church becomes part of the Beeac Parish

1903	Bishop Arthur Green consecrates St Andrews Church on the 10/5. Sunday School Hall erected

1904	St Andrews Church becomes part of the Colac Parish.

1906	St Andrews Church first vicarage is built with Rev. H.E. Lewin being the first resident priest.

1908	St Andrews Church becomes a separate parish.

1935	St Andrews Church amalgamates with Beeac.

1948	St Andrews Sunday School Hall is sold to the public and removed.

1965

St Georges of the Soldiers Memorial Church - Dreeite is closed and the bell and foundation stone is moved to St Andrews.

Stainglass windows of the south wall in St Andrews come from St Georges - Dreeite. Scenes depicted are, from the left, St Michael, Christ holding the Cup of suffering and St George.

1970	Glass doors and the print of 'Christ On The Cross' come from the recently closed St Elizabeth's Church - Warrion.

St Andrews - Alvie Golden Jubilee invitation in 1945

St Andrews - Alvie dedication of new church hall in 1962

Alvie Priests

24/10/1895

Rev. J. Kirkland from Colac

3/4/1898

Rev. H.M.R. Ruff from Beeac

1/1/1904

Rev. A.W.E. Peacock from Colac

Resident Priests

7/1/1906 to 21/7/1907

Rev. H.E. Lewin

28/7/1907 to 12/07/1908

Rev. J. Phillips

19/07/1908 to 12/3/1916

Rev. Charles Edward Smith

19/3/1916 to 22/4/1917

Rev. C. C?

29/7/1917 to 7/12/1919

Rev. T.M. Smith

14/12/1919 to 11/7/1920

Rev. H. Hayden

18/7/1920 to 8/1920

F.J. Bells

3/10/1920

A.B. Pywell

11/9/1921

Rev. A.B. Pywell was Instituted and Inducted as the first Vicar of Alvie

1957-1973

Rev Fred Bentley

An Anecdotal History Of
St. Andrews Church of England, Alvie.
1890 - 1897

(by Miss E.E. Bridle)

I, Emma E. Bridle, having been asked by the Secretary of the history of the Church of England, Alvie, near Colac, to write about the history of the Church, form the time my parents and their family of 8 children left Koroit in the year 1890, and rented land on the estate of the late Thomas Carmichael Murray of Warrion, I will try to the best of my ability to do so. Although I am an old woman now, the happenings of those days are still vivid in my memory.

When we arrived at Alvie in the year 1890, there was no Church of England nor resident minister, but we were visited by the Rev. Mr. Lumsden of Colac, and also the Rev. A.E. Harvey of Beeac.

We used to attend the Church of England at Warrion, a distance, I should think, of about six miles, our means of transport being a horse-drawn buggy. We children took our lunch and stayed on for Sunday School, and then walked home round the foot of the big Warrion Hill.

Later on, services and Sunday School were held in the Alvie State School, which was built on Mr. T.C. Murray’s Warrion Estate. Sunday School meetings were held at the home of Mr. Oliphant (Lord Of The Rings, anyone?), who was the gardener at Glen Alvie.

As time went on, more people rented land on the various stations, and our congregations began to increase. It was then decided to build a church. Meetings were called and Mr. Stewart Murray of Wool Wool Estate kindly provided a block of land on his property, free, and also headed the subscription list with a substantial donation. So, the life of St. Andrew’s began. I cannot recall the date when the building contract was let, or who the contractors were. At that time, Camperdown Church of England was putting in new furniture, and passed on to St. Andrew’s that which they had taken out. It was made of oak, and remains in the Alvie Church today.

During our time, quite a number of people came to the district from Ballarat, many of them belonging to the Church of England. There were 3 families of Brights. Alfred Bright rented land on T.C. Murray’s estate adjoining our property. All their children were baptised at St. Andrew’s. 2 brothers, John and William Bright rented land from Mr. Thomas Baker, and they also attended the Alvie Church. To the east was a very large family by the name of Parker, and a neighbour to them was Alice Brisbane, a relative of Governor Brisbane of New South Wales, after whom the city of Brisbane in Queensland is named. Alice Brisbane was my closest friend, and she and I were of the first choir at St. Andrews.

Other Church of England people were the Davis family from Glen Alvie Estate, the Stepnells on T.C. Murray’s estate, and 2 Phalp families. Mrs Louis Calvert of Dreeite was the organist in the early years. Miss Harman was a very regular attendant and also taught in the Sunday School. My eldest sister was a teacher, too.

I can truthfully state that at a morning service, the Church was usually filled. There could have been other families whom I have forgotten.

During our stay there, confirmation classes were held and 3 of our family were confirmed– Henry, Laura and myself– by Bishop H.s. Cooper, D.D who was acting at that time for the Bishop of Ballarat, whose name I cannot now remember. That was on the 8th. November, 1896, and the number of confirmees was eight. The Secretary, no doubt, will have a record of the first Vestry meeting.

The first marriage in the Alvie Church was between Miss Mary Buckle and Mr. Alan Stepnell. The same year, my sister, Miss Mary Bridle and Mr. John Gunn of Koroit were the second pair to be married. We left Alvie in April, 1897, and bought a farm at Morwell in Gippsland.

E.E. Bridle, April, 1966