Rain did not deter those from worship at St John the Baptist Anglican Church on Sunday and the main reason was the service celebrated 150 years of continual worship at Reedy Creek.
In a book launched back in 2008, author Betty Longue described the serenity of the location, nestled amongst the Chinese Elms, Pine and Native trees with Mirannie Mountain in the background. Nothing has changed and the church remains a serene as it ever was.
The church as it stands today, was built in 1908 replacing a wooden church that had been built next to the Reedy Creek Cemetery. The ‘new’ church came about, according to historical records, because by 1907, this original church had become too small to seat all its parishioners at one service so plans for a bigger place of worship began.
Among those in the congregation were three generations of the Binnie family who were impressed to hear of the philanthropic nature of their ancestor Richard Binnie. Richard had used architect J. W. Manson to build a home at Point Piper and subsequently commissioned him to design the church to be built on land donated by John James Graham. In addition he donated fifty pound to launch the fund to build the church.
In all the church cost 422 pound and 16 shillings and has been meticulously cared for ever since in what Joy Poole described as a place people where people come and they stay.
Henry Moore started playing the church organ when he was 13 back in 1891 and continued to play until 1966, missing only three services.
Then there were the three Moore sisters, Sis, Dot and Lil, who cleaned the church for 62 years.
Thanks were also passed onto Kay Stacy who ‘pulled the books together’ for many years.
Sue Moore has been a constant supporter of the church and her husband Richard, has mown the church grounds for many years.
“Somewhere, out there, is the next generation who will keep it going,” Joy said.
On a lighter note, Joy made mention that there had never been a blackout at St John’s. Perhaps that is because there are no lights with many in the congregation resorting to mobile phones to light up their booklets.
