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Welcome to St Peter's by the lake Anglican Church in Paynesville.
ABOUT OUR PARISH
SERVICES AND GROUPS
SERVICES AND GROUPS
SERVICES AND GROUPS
SUNDAYS
9.30am Sundays
Weekday groups and services resume in February
TUESDAYS
9.30am Holy Communion.
FRIDAYS:
10.30am Coffee and Chat on the Foreshore.
4.00pm Christian meditation (in the Church building)
St Peter's Church is built on the land of the Gunai Kurnai People.
We acknowledge the Gurnai Kurnai people as the original inhabitants of th
SUNDAYS
9.30am Sundays
Weekday groups and services resume in February
TUESDAYS
9.30am Holy Communion.
FRIDAYS:
10.30am Coffee and Chat on the Foreshore.
4.00pm Christian meditation (in the Church building)
St Peter's Church is built on the land of the Gunai Kurnai People.
We acknowledge the Gurnai Kurnai people as the original inhabitants of this land.
We acknowledge their elders past and present and their children who are the hope for the future.
Covid 19 Update
SERVICES AND GROUPS
SERVICES AND GROUPS
Being Church in these Covid times
With Covid 19 restrictions eased, the Parish has returned to a 9.30am Sunday service.. Some restrictions still apply. We will still need to “social distance” and wear masks. Congregational singing is not yet allowed. To comply with the rules regarding the number of people allowed to gather in the building,
Being Church in these Covid times
With Covid 19 restrictions eased, the Parish has returned to a 9.30am Sunday service.. Some restrictions still apply. We will still need to “social distance” and wear masks. Congregational singing is not yet allowed. To comply with the rules regarding the number of people allowed to gather in the building, there has been some “tweaking” of seating arrangements. While Anglicans love to sit in their accustomed place, please accept the guidance of signage on the pews and elsewhere. Holy Communion will continue to be administered with a small amount of wine “intinctured” onto the bread.
Our History
Quiet Garden and Maze
Quiet Garden and Maze
The land upon which the Anglican Church of St Peter by the Lake, Paynesville is built was made available by a Crown Grant in 1892 for the Diocese of Melbourne, which at the time included all Gippsland. Later the title was transferred to the newly created Diocese of Gippsland following its formation in 1902.
Later generations have benefited
The land upon which the Anglican Church of St Peter by the Lake, Paynesville is built was made available by a Crown Grant in 1892 for the Diocese of Melbourne, which at the time included all Gippsland. Later the title was transferred to the newly created Diocese of Gippsland following its formation in 1902.
Later generations have benefited from the fore sight of those responsible for this Crown Grant. In the late 19th century, Paynesville (formally Toonalook) was a small fishing village, but the potential for future development, based on the surrounding Gippsland Lakes, was already evident.
The first recorded Anglican service held in Paynesville was on 30 November 1879 by the Reverend Ernest Hartmann, Rector of Bairnsdale and, although not declared part of the Bairnsdale Parish until 1937, Paynesville was served principally until that time by a succession of lay or clerical missioners responsible for outlying communities, operating under the oversight of the rector of Bairnsdale. Services in Paynesville were held in the local Methodist Church.
Building
The Reverend (later Canon) Douglas Smith, appointed as Rector of the Parish of Bairnsdale in 1950, challenged the Anglicans of Paynesville to build their own church. It was his idea to build a church with nautical features, similar to the one he had seen in England at the Church of St Leonards-on-Sea in Surrey.
However, it was not until 1958 that an architect was appointed, Wystan Widdows, a leader in ecclesiastical architecture in Victoria. The tender for construction of the building was let to a Gippsland firm, Lemchens & Skult.
Construction work began in April 1960 and the Foundation Stone was laid by the Right Reverend David Garnsey, Bishop of Gippsland on 31 July of the same year. The architect took advantage of the sloping nature of the site to incorporate a meeting room underneath the sanctuary.
The dedication of the completed church, named after St Peter, patron saint of the sea, was undertaken by Bishop Garnsey on 25 March 1961.
In keeping with Anglican tradition, the consecration of the church was not held until the project was debt-free and, thanks to generous support across the parish, this was able to be undertaken by the Right Reverend Graham Delbridge, Bishop of Gippsland on 4 July 1976.
Nautical Features
In keeping with the suggestion of Canon Smith the following nautical features were incorporated in the church.
The pulpit built by a local boat-builder, Mr Joe Bull, is a replica of the prow of a fishing boat, even to the copper nails.
The font is in the shape of s bollard holding an upturned bell, the bell od the steamer “SS Dargo”, the last of the trading steamers on the Gippsland lakes.
In front of the church is a flagpole made from the boom of the “Boomerang” as a memorial to a former parishioner, Martha Hamilton.
The imposing tower that soars above the roof resembles a lighthouse with a cross and a light which can be seen far out on the lakes, a feature much appreciated by the boating community.
The large clear windows behind the altar overlook the picturesque waters of Lake Victoria and present a panorama of sea and sky through the tracery of the branches of the gum trees.
A tile mosaic of fish, an early Christian symbol, is set on the exterior of the building, high above the sanctuary windows.
Above the blue carpet of the sanctuary glows the sanctuary lamp, fashioned from a ship’s riding light.
Separation
From the 1980’s, there has been significant growth of both resident population and visitors across much of East Gippsland, including the communities of both Bairnsdale and Paynesville and in 1987, the first resident clergyman, Canon Percy Moore, was appointed to Paynesville, with a residence built adjacent to the church the following year.
Arising from considerable discussion within the Parish as to how ministry could be best developed, the Paynesville congregation resolved in 2000 to request the Bishop of Gippsland, the Right Reverend Arthur Jones, for Paynesville to be separated from Bairnsdale with its own Priest-in-charge.
The Bishop responded positively to the proposal and declared Paynesville (also incorporating the adjacent areas of Raymond Island, Eagle Point and Newlands Arm) severed from the Parish of Bairnsdale with the effect from 1 May 2000, with the Reverend Caroline Nancarrow appointed as Priest-in-charge.
Quiet Garden and Maze
Quiet Garden and Maze
Quiet Garden and Maze
Located on the shore of Newlands Arm in the Gippsland lakes, St Peter’s Church is surrounded by a “Quiet Garden”.
We welcome all into our garden, to experience the beauty and serenity of creation. Come sit awhile enjoy the birds and surrounds. It had its genesis in the ‘quiet place’ Jesus went to pray. There is a labyrinth, you might lik
Located on the shore of Newlands Arm in the Gippsland lakes, St Peter’s Church is surrounded by a “Quiet Garden”.
We welcome all into our garden, to experience the beauty and serenity of creation. Come sit awhile enjoy the birds and surrounds. It had its genesis in the ‘quiet place’ Jesus went to pray. There is a labyrinth, you might like to wander through in order to focus your attention on some inner thoughts or feelings. One small area is a Memorial Garden in which some families have ashes of their loved ones interred.
Our garden has evolved from the efforts of many, all with a passion for gardening, nature and nurture. One very important and notable gardener, involved from almost the onset was Rev Canon Percy Moore, horticulturist and retired priest, at the time of his involvement. We also had considerable input from The Bairnsdale Adult Centre of Education – the Director, Ray Ferres, was a parishioner.
One of the rarer and most valuable commodities available to our society is the opportunity for some quiet, personal time and space. Time spent in the natural environment inspires our reflections and invigorates our actions.
Our garden - registered with the world wide Quiet Garden Movement – was planned as a place of peaceful serenity, open to locals and visitors, who wish to wander and immerse themselves in the beauty of creation. At one stage biblical planting was used - some not so successfully – combined with the labyrinth, promising to provide a place of great beauty.