Let me introduce myself – I am Alex the Lion Kidd, and I’m going to be sharing some amazing history of the Anglican Parish of St Mark’s in Clayfield. St Mark’s is celebrating our 100th birthday in 2025.
I got my name from a guy called Alex Kidd, who knew a lot about the history of St Marks- he even wrote a book! You’ll hear more about him throughout the year
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, which is an important part of the Easter season. On Palm Sunday, members of the congregation recieve palm crosses to take home. Each year, our GFS group and others come together to prepare the crosses and enjoy pizza together!
On Sunday, we will process around the church with palm branches and say “Hosanna!”
An important part of the Anglican faith is baptism.
Throughout our history, so many people have been welcomed into God’s family at St Mark’s. Sometimes people are baptised as babies or children, and some people when they are adults. When people come forward for baptism, they are supported by parents, godparents or sponsors, and by the whole congregation!
It is a wonderful celebration, and part of their faith journey.
St Mark’s has a Backpack Ministry!
Every year for about 10 years, the GFS girls with help from the parish have put together backpacks for Anglicare.
Anglicare uses the backpacks to give to kids who are entering foster care or who are sometimes homeless.
Each backpack had clothes and pyjamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, a hair brush, and other goodies, including a toy.
We have donated over 350 backpacks. We will present 60 backpacks to Anglicare at the High Tea on Sunday.
In 2006 a group from St Mark’s lead by Father Phil went on a mission trip to Bollon in Western Queensland.
Some of the group stayed at the Bollon pub and others camped at the showgrounds.
They painted the church, did repairs to the building, hosted a community BBQ, enjoyed catching and racing yabbies, made a banner and worshipped in St Mary’s.
A memorable mission, the second of many.
After church every Sunday the people of St Mark’s gather to share in delicious, often home made, morning tea.
In 2006, the parish put forward their best recipes to make the Heavenly Delights cookbook, as a fund-raiser for the first mission to Wyndham, (more about that later)
Today Alex made a Chocolate Fudge Cake, a favourite recipe of Glory Crooke who lived on Bonney Avenue.
This week we added a new milestone to St Mark’s history as we farewelled Reverend Nicki, our 8th rector. Nicki has been with us for 6 years, and we have been blessed by her guidance and care.
Nicki came to our parish in 2019, and, along with her trusty sidekick Dibley, helped to guide us through all the changes and challenges of Covid- church looked pretty different through those times! Since then, Nicki has helped our parish to grow and worship together. Thank you Nicki for your time with us, and we all wish you the very best for your next adventures!
Kids have always been a really important part of our parish here at St Mark’s. Over the years, so many kids have had fun, built friendships and connected to God. Some of them have even come back to bring their own kids along to church!
Special memories of kids at church include parish fun days and outings to Kalinga and Oriel parks, discos (with a GIANT banana split!), teddy bear’s picnics, Sunday School, C-Zone, performances like Sister Act and now, Kids Plus and Play Church! We would love to see any photos of your kids having fun at St Mark’s.
Look what I found in the hall at St Mark’s, an amazing Marmalade Shop!!
Here is some of the history of the shop. It started about 30 years ago to support the work of the Hayes Family, who were CMS Missionaries in Nepal. More about them later…
Now it also supports the work of the Bush Ministry Fund. They gave the parish the little windmill to say thank you.
Visit the Marmalade Shop to buy some delicious jam, marmalade and pickles. You can shop after Sunday services and keep an eye out for special events at St Mark’s like the Election Day stalls.
Did you know that when the parish began in 1925, there was a different church building? Even though the building was different, check out these photos- the carved wall behind the altar, which is called the reredos, is the same one that was in the original church! Isn’t it beautiful?
The stained glass windows are also the same- you’ll find out more about our gorgeous windows as we journey through our celebration year!