Percy from the Pews
Closing Holy Trinity has overshadowed the enforced loss at the same time of another old Anglican parish church in North Hobart – St Margaret’s in Federal Street.
It is understood that when it comes to the property of the parish, St Margaret’s will be the first sold, along with land held at the Glebe.
A long-time worshipper at St Margaret’s, Craig Cracknell, compiled its history and of particular relevance to what has now happened with its closure are comments recorded at the church’s centenary in 1996.
(St Margaret’s origins date from 1871 when it began life as a mission room in an adjoining street. The 100th anniversary was from 1896, the year when the existing church was completed and in use).
The minister who spoke at the centenary was Assistant Bishop Henry Jerrim, a man with a close personal affinity to North Hobart, for he was born, raised, educated and became a rector in the same parish – at Holy Trinity.
In reflecting on St Margaret’s past role, he also spoke of its future challenge, and the hope that the anniversary day of March 17, 1996, might be the start of a new future for the church.
He said: “The Christian community must not allow materialism and hedonism to swamp the important spiritual values. St Margaret’s is a small piece of land set out and dedicated to God, and it stands as a signpost, as a witness to the Christian faith. It would be a sad day to see that materialism and commercialism absorbed into this particular place.
“Is it possible that St Margaret’s in its future could be a place where people who work in North Hobart could come for a short time, to come apart from material things and to think about spiritual things? Is it possible that St Margaret’s could become a chapel and a community centre in the name of God?”
He was right to sound concerned, for dark clouds were gathering over its future – the next year the Anglican Church produced a new ordinance for the rationalisation of its church buildings in Tasmania. There were 71 listed for closure, St Margaret’s included.
Craig Cracknell recounts that with this news, an emotional and moving service was held at St Margaret’s on Sunday, March 9, 1997, when past and present members of the congregation joined together.
They decided to fight the closure and to revitalise their church. There was a newly formed parish council at the time and it petitioned the diocese council against closure, gaining a reprieve until a review in 2000.
Sadly today time has run out for St Margaret’s.
The church’s name honoured the only royal Scottish saint, Queen Margaret of Scotland. She was English and a direct descendant of King Alfred. But as one of the last Saxon royals in England, her family feared for their lives and fled north when William the Conqueror arrived.
Very pious, she was a prime mover in the reform of the Church in Scotland and cared especially for the poor and orphans. After marrying Malcolm, King of Scotland, she sought to ensure their subjects were well looked after and that justice was done. She introdcued a law forbidding the royal soldiers from looting Scottish homes, and freed the slaves won in many battles by Malcolm.
She also founded various churches and said there could be no buying and selling in Scotland on the sabbath.
Her name is honoured in St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest part of Edinburgh Castle. Away further south of the border, in London, St Margaret’s Church stands alongside Westminster Abbey and is the parish church of the House of Commons.
So much recognition in the one holy name, but in Hobart it will soon be gone.
