Are these men pioneer pastors?

Webmaster | 1 August 2006

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Parish in Focus: ST MARY’S, WAVERLEY

Accident showed rector’s trust in God
A surfing accident left the Rev Terry Dicks a quadriplegic three years ago. But a wheelchair has not stopped the rector emeritus from continuing his legacy of ministry to the suburb. Known as the chaplain to Waverley, Mr Dicks was the longest-serving rector at St Mary’s with 37 years service until his retirement in 2004. He resumed his duties at St Mary’s the next year after a long recovery process. Upon his retirement he continues to be a parishioner of the church with his wife Jan. There have only been seven rectors since the church was built in 1857.

Million-dollar restoration bill
St Mary’s is popular for weddings due to its stunning façade and interior. The famous Australian architect of St Mary’s, Edmund Blacket, was a personal friend of the first rector, Stanley Mitchell. However, heritage issues remain paramount. In the early 1980s the church was found to be unsafe to enter. Extensive restoration to the fabric of the building has taken place since then. It is estimated the heritage bill over the past ten years has been approximately $1million. The parish is exploring its option to develop the site, which includes a childcare centre, to raise funds for its heritage obligations. The building is classified by the National Trust.

Quirky fact
The wedding scene in the 1994 film Muriel’s Wedding was filmed at St Mary’s. St Mary’s resident ‘wedding singer’, Robyn Pitt-Owen, was the soloist in the hit movie.

A Moore College graduate is bringing a high church alive for a new generation, writes MADELEINE COLLINS.

Residents walking past St Mary’s, Waverley on Saturday nights in coming months may be surprised to see the church wide open and the sounds of the guitar reverberating around the sandstone.

The parishioners of St Mary’s are about to start a new contemporary service aimed at young families in the area who are busy on Sundays with the lure of the beach and family commitments.

It is a strategic move for the parish, with the aim of modernising the church’s rich high church tradition to reach a new generation of local churchgoers as well as non-believers.

“This is trying to touch a completely new group of people,” says Waverley’s new rector, Cliff Stratton.

Key to this ministry is the childcare centre on the church property, which has played an important role in the parish since it opened back in 1951.

Parish councillors sit on the board of the centre and Mr Stratton has asked the childcare centre directors to use the resources of the church and encourage the children to visit the church – ‘to help the children understand that God exists and that he loves them’.

“The people we want in church in 10-15 years time are the people coming to the childcare centre now,” Mr Stratton said.

“It’s a great way for the church to meet families.”

It may be the first time that guitars have been used in the building, but the decision is a natural step for a parish that has a vibrant and active musical ministry steeped in a well-preserved Anglo-Catholic heritage.

Archbishop Peter Jensen has licensed a 27-year-old trainee minister, Ben Edwards, to help run the service.

With a rector who describes himself as a ‘businessman who decided to become a priest’ fresh life has come to the parish, which has been without a permanent leader for three years following the retirement of long-serving rector the Rev Terence (Terry) Dicks (see box on left).

Paramount in the life of the church, which has a strong prayer and healing ministry, is daily worship with Communion.

This ministry dropped off due to the previous rector’s accident but the church is now introducing daily services again. A prayer group from the healing service meets three days a week.

Mr Stratton was ordained in June 2004 after leaving a high-flying career in the IT world to take up full-time theological study in Sydney, with the aim of going into parish ministry in the Diocese.

The 60-year-old began his tenure at St Mary’s in April this year after previously serving at the parish of Epping, where he was assistant minister for three years.

Mr Stratton says his aim is to build and develop a new generation of worshippers ‘in this beautiful place’ at St Mary’s, while ensuring stability and continuity for the existing congregations and building a harmonious relationship with Sydney Diocese.

He is keen to emphasise ‘Scripture, spirituality and sacraments’ as the three central pillars that should make up the life of the church.

“I want this to be the high church place where the Bible is taught and people are brought to Christ,” Mr Stratton said.

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