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1892
1895
20 December 1895
St. Luke's Church of England is a very superior structure, and a comfortable one. It has seen good service, but is still in good order. The Rev. F. Haviland has charge of the parish1
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1897
13 February 1897
1971
17 November 1971
CROWD OF 250 AT ST. LUKE’S CENTENARY
“A powerhouse of prayer, a symbol of Christian faith, a sermon in stone”.
The Bishop of Newcastle Right Rev. J. A. G. Housden described St. Luke’s Church of England Gulgong over the past 100 years of its history in this manner on Sunday.
Bishop Housden was the guest celebrant and preacher at the Centenary Eucharist held at St. Luke’s.
A crowd of about 250 packed into the church to commemorate the years of service by past parishioners and rectors and to pray for the continuation of this Christian service in the years that lie ahead.
Archdeacon Ussher of Bathurst representing the Bishop of Bathurst, Bishop Leslie, at the centenary celebration.
Cudgegong Shire President Cr. Paul Khoury represented the Shire Council.
There were also representatives from the Methodist, Salvation Army, Presbyterian and Catholic communities of Gulgong, as well as representatives of various organisations of the town.
After the service it was intended to hold a parish picnic in the Church grounds, but because of the rainy weather lunch was eaten in the parish hall.
Among the crowd at the service were big numbers from St. Marks Church, Goolma and St. Cuthbert’s Church, Ulan.
Bishop Housden said it was wonderful to share in the ecumenical spirit among the churches displayed by the number of representatives present at the celebration of the Eucharist in honour of the Church’s centenary.
Rev. Dallas Hinds, Rector of St. Luke’s, thanked Bishop Housden and expressed appreciation of the large numbers of people who attended the service.
Rector Hinds will shortly be leaving Gulgong for an appointment at Warracknabeal, Victoria.
As a farewell gesture he will walk from Goolma to Gulgong on November 27 in an effort to clear the debt on the church before he goes.
Built Solidly
In his address Bishop Houseden developed the text “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who built it”.
Bishop Houseden said St. Luke’s was built solidly to the glory of God by the gold mining community of 100 years ago.
Many of these pioneer Gulgong people wanted to say “thank you” to God for leading their feet to such a fine country as Australia.
He said with the gold that went to build the church there was also many a widow’s mite.
The Bishop said when he came into Gulgong he first thought the town was built for the glory of hotels, but now he then saw the churches on the hill and he knew the founders of the town were men of faith and because of the choice of one hill were of an ecumenical spirit advanced from their times.
Bishop Houseden said St. Luke’s was a church which had been tended with loving care by its parishioners over the century and was adorned with furnishings which gave it a reverence and mystique essential to worship.
Strength
The Bishop said the danger of modern man, to get too big for his boots could be seen in the ways men’s discoveries could and were being used for his own destruction.
There was a great need to turn once again to God and the Church was there standing strong and solid to help renew the spiritual strength needed in the world today.
The people who lived in the country found it easier to see the ways of God, because they lived closer to nature, than the people of the cities.
He said the altar, the windows, the cross, the candles, lights and vestments all spoke a language of faith and gave instructions to the children of the parish year in year out.
He asked the congregation never to do away with the sense of mystery, joy and beauty in worship.
He asked the people to continue to bring their families to St. Luke’s and to keep alive the faith for the coming generations.
However prayer was not a substitute for action.
There was a true association of picketing with prayers, he said.
In the worship shared at St. Luke’s, the Christian was moved to carry their faith and action out into the world and see Christ in the hungry, the sick, and the poor3
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