Turning the sod
The Mail, Thursday, 16 August 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 Croydon," 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 pounds, 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.