THE MAIL, THURSDAY, AUG 16, 1956

450 Attend Unique Ceremony
at St. John's

ABOUT 450 parishioners braved the inclement
weather last Saturday afternoon to accept the
invitation of the Vicar of St. John's (the Rev. C. N.
Thomas) and turn a sod on the site of the new
church which is about to be built on the corner of
Railway Ave and Toorak Ave, Croydon.

The ceremony of Turning the First Sod, an age
old custom in parts of England, is not common in
Australia:and the privilege was bestowed on the
Vicar's Warden (Mr. C. J. Chalmers). After Mr.
Chalmers had performed his office, the Vicar asked
all present to turn a sod and thus take a symbolic
part in the building of the new church.

The ceremony was timed to commence at 2.30 and
long before that hour, families arrived by car and
on foot, bringing with them a varied collection of
digging tools, ranging from children's sand spades
to Iong-handled shovels. Many of the implements
had been especially re-painted for the occasion.

The site, which had been levelled in readiness for the
digging of the foundations was waterlogged by heavy
overnight rains and planks had to be laid to permit the
progress of the procession around the perimeter.

An impressive sight was witnessed when, after a short
service, the Vicar preceded by the Crucifer and attended
by two Servers, the Vicar's Warden, the builder of the
new church, and the PeopIe's Warden, led the procession
around the site.

The congregation lined the perimeter as Mr.O1iver Knee,
deputising for Mr. J. F. Hemphill, who could not attend
because of illness, introduced Mr. Chalmers.

Mr. Chalmers spoke of the big increase of Croydon's
population over the past few years and the need for more
accommodation than that provided by tbe present wooden
building which was originally erected on a site in Croydon
Road.

"And I'd like to mention at this stage that Mr. Will Knee,
who stil1 worships with us and who is present here this
afternoon, took part in the clearing of the site in Croydon
Road; and that was fifty years ago," said Mr. Chalmers.

Mr. Chalmers also referred feelingly to the service rendered
the Church over a long period by other Vestrymen,
mentioning Mr. Jack Allen, who attended the ceremony,
and Mr. Jack Knee and Mr. Harry Allen, who were
absent because of illness.

“When, through the Sacrificial Contributions of so many of
our parishioners, added to an amount already in hand, the
Vestry was able to go ahead with the plans for our new
Church, we.felt we must erect for God's service the very
best church we could. The advice of the well-known
architect, Mr. Keith Reid, was obtained, and we feel sure
that, when completed, the new church will be an edifice
of which we all will be proud and a monument to the
Anglican community in Ctoydon," concluded Mr. Chalmers.

Mr. Eric Radden, who has been entrusted with the task of
buiIding the new church, handed Mr. Chalmers a new spade
with which to turn the first sod.

After the singing of the Doxology, Mr. Ray Kenny, the
People's Warden, who officiated iri the procession,
thanked Mr. Chalmers, and the Vicar brought the ceremony
to a close with an invitation to the large congregation to
take afternoon tea.

The new church is estimated to cost £19,675, and Mr. Radden
hopes to have it completed in some ten months. Some of the
materials are already on the site, and the work will be started
immediately.