Being light to the people of the Mackay region
On 1 January, 2019, the Ministry Units of Mackay – Holy Trinity; North Mackay – St Ambrose and West Mackay – St Charles, joined together to form the Mackay Regional Ministry Unit which is now known as the Mackay Anglican Cluster.
Yes, the three former Ministry Units (Parishes) are now back together as a Cluster working cooperatively together to spread the Gospel.
St Ambrose, North Mackay
On 1 January, 1961 a separate Parochial District of St Ambrose was formed from the Parish of Holy Trinity, Mackay. “Stirrings of revival and renewal within the Church in the Mackay District can be traced back to April 1953.” (Quote from A History of the Anglican Church in all Centres now incorporated in the Parish of St Ambrose.)
In 1965, the Parochial District was declared the “Parish of North Mackay” with the mother church being St Ambrose in Palmer Street– now a restaurant called “Church on Palmer”.
On 30 November, 1975, the Right Revd John Lewis SSM, blessed the Foundation stone for the new St Ambrose Church in Glenpark St. He later consecrated the Church on 5 December, 1981.
The original Rectory in Palmer Street was relocated and made into a two story structure at 28 Glenpark St in October, 1975. A small, well used Hall also stands in the spacious grounds.
Holy Trinity Mackay
Mackay was founded as a port in 1863 to export wool from the expanding pastoral industry of the hinterlands. It is named after Captain John Mackay, who had established a cattle run at Greenmount, twenty kilometres inland, in the early 1860s. Sugar was first planted in the region in 1865, and this has become the dominant industry. Coal mining in the hinterland is fast becoming significant to the city.
Anglican services were initially held in the Court House from 1863 onwards. The first Holy Trinity church was built on the present site in 1870-71, although it lasted only a few years, collapsing in 1878. Following the creation of the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland in 1878, Mackay became part of the new Diocese, having previously belonged to the Diocese of Brisbane although, paradoxically, areas further north had still been controlled by the Diocese of Sydney until this time.
The second Holy Trinity Church was built in 1879, a wooden building in Gothic style designed by the colonial architect, Mr F. D. G. Stanley. It survived until being destroyed in the disastrous ‘Mackay Cyclone’ in January 1918. It was for this second church that the first two organs were built in the 1890s and 1911 respectively. A temporary church occupied the site from 1918 until the present building was opened in December 1926.
The present Holy Trinity church building, the third on this site, was designed by the architect, Lange L. Powell. It was built in 1925-26 employing a blend of Romanesque, Spanish Mission and Mediterranean architectural styles. The church and surrounding Parish properties have in recent years been extensively repaired and restored.
Located prominently near the business centre of the city, Holy Trinity stands as an icon of Anglicanism to the community and as such provides a welcoming presence to all by way of worship.
The Church also contains a treasure of stained glass windows that are considered to be the best example of this art form north of the metropolitan area. These windows are a series by Brooks Robinson from 1949 to 1962. Brooks Robinson was a solid commercial company making windows for seventy years and while there are many examples of their work in churches in Queensland and Australia it is clear that the set clerestory windows are a planned, significant sizeable and impressive collection. It chronologically depicts the life of Christ.
St Charles, West Mackay
Early in 1935, a church hall was built at the corner of Bridge Road and Holland Street to cater for the residents of the expanding area of South Ward (now the suburb of West Mackay). This centre was part of the Parish of Holy Trinity. On June 9th that year, Bishop Oliver Feetham celebrated the first service and blessed the worship centre.
In 1955 the Church committee wrote to the Bishop indicating a need to form the Parish of West Mackay. On 8th November 1956 the Parish of West Mackay was officially formed and in February 1957 the first Rector and family arrived. In 1957 it was decided to sell the Adrian Street property and purchase the land on which the present buildings stand. I
In 1958 building of the Church Hall and Rectory were commenced. On 22nd May 1959 Princess Alice visited Mackay and laid the foundation stone for the proposed church. This stone was incorporated in the new building.
At the end of 1981 a new move was made to build a place exclusively for worship. With a dramatic increase in the numbers, space in the old facilities became very limited. Sketch plans were presented to the Bishop and in March 1982 a Jubilee Appeal was launched. The Appeal was conducted entirely by Parishioners with a target of $120,000. In October 1982 demolition work on part of the old building began and very firm foundations were laid for the new building. Church Warden Wally Christensen was the registered builder in charge of the project and was assisted by many skilled voluntary workers over an eighteen month period. The building was opened debt free on July 14 1984 and was consecrated in October 1984.
The building is designed to hold 120 people with provision for another 250 plus in the old worship area. The enclosed courtyard and wide verandahs are very useful for fellowship and social gatherings. Behind the sanctuary are four large glass panels looking into a garden that adds serenity, beauty and peace.
In 2014 we celebrated our 55th anniversary of the McGinn Street Site and 30th Anniversary of the consecration of the Church. Every day we give thanks to God for God’s blessing to us.
St Margaret’s Nebo
Hall Hire and Facilities
The Hall at West Mackay and North Mackay are available for hire. Contact the office for details.
