Turning 40 is a milestone moment in any life and this weekend, as Newington College Chapel celebrates four decades, we reflect on its ongoing role in helping provide our students with a modern faith based liberal education.
Births, deaths and marriages. All key life points which make up hundreds of precious, poignant and sometimes painful occasions. All commemorated, celebrated and remembered in the Newington College Chapel.
This weekend, in commemoration of the College Chapel’s 40th opening on 26 February 1984, our community will celebrate its inauguration and reflect on the criterion faith has played in Newington’s 161 years.
College Pastor Richard La’Brooy will lead worship at Sunday’s commemorative service.
‘The Newington community feels a deep connection to the Chapel and has done for four decades. It is the place where students worship and have worshiped each week for their Chapel Services during their school life,’ Pastor La’Brooy explains.
‘Our students also enjoy House Services each year, which brings the whole House community – students, parents and staff – together, as well as more significant Services in the College calendar. As such, the Chapel provides the grounding to faith for much of our Newington family, and it is often the first place they hear the Gospel.’
It is this connection to faith forged as a student, which calls many Old Newingtonians back to mark special life moments in the Chapel, believes Pastor La’Brooy
‘For many the College Chapel is the place they feel most connected to their faith long after they walk out of the Newington gates as a student for the last time.
‘Children and grandchildren are baptised in the Chapel and year on year, many marriages, funeral and memorial services are also held here because many Old Newingtonians feel a visceral attachment many decades after they have left the College as a student.’
Now a Uniting Church school, Newington College was founded in 1863 under the Wesleyan Methodist Church by Methodist Ministers. The driving desire for its conception was to create a Theological College to train young men to become Methodist Ministers. As those plans progressed, the idea grew to also encompass a separate school. Both colleges – the Wesleyan Collegiate Institution and the Theological Institution, were formed and when the school moved to our campus in Stanmore in 1881, the theological Training College moved with it.
Originally Chapel for students took place in Prescott Hall, however in 1883 when Stanmore Methodist Church built a new church building to accommodate its growing congregation, boarders and local day students began attending Sunday services there. Newington Archivist Julie Daly says this association continued for nearly 100 years.
‘This Church became our official chapel in 1927, with the local Minister conducting services on Wednesday mornings for students and staff. Our first full-time Chaplain, Rev John Woodhouse, was appointed in 1952,’ says Ms Daly.
Twenty years later in 1972, an opportunity arose to purchase the Stanmore Methodist Church land and buildings. The original small sandstone church, designed by the architect of the Founders Building, Thomas Rowe, was built in 1875 and has survived to form part of our theatre precinct.
Says Ms Daly, ‘the larger church was now neglected, damaged and suffering from safety issues. It was deemed unsafe and subsequently demolished in 1974. With access to neither church nor chapel, our services were held variously between Centenary Hall, Bergin Garden Theatre and Wyvern Hall. The desire for a chapel of our own soon grew.
‘The site of an outdoor basketball court beside Centenary Hall and backing onto the Bergin Garden Theatre was chosen for its visibility from most parts of the school grounds, placing it, and faith, in the hearts and minds of everyone in the College community.’
It’s a position, agrees Pastor La’Brooy, it has maintained throughout our 161 year history.
‘It’s important to understand that while the Chapel has only been built for 40 years, faith has been a cornerstone of Newington through its whole history including in 1977 when the Methodist Church became part of the Uniting Church in Australia.
‘Our theology, yesterday, today and tomorrow, talks about a justice-centred faith; one that seeks to put faith into action by serving the world,’ he says.
‘Key to this is inclusivity and acceptance and seeking to care for all people without discrimination. And as the school motto proclaims, In fide scientiam, faith and knowledge have been the two cornerstones of our College’s life.’
This embodiment of faith in the College is evident in the symbols of knowledge throughout the Chapel, he adds.
‘The Chapel Frieze around the wall which lists 52 names of people of knowledge – thinkers, leaders, philosophers, artists and religious figures. It is designed as a physical embodiment of our motto. Similarly, the two main stained glass windows running up the walls of the Chapel are intended to show the scientific endeavours of knowledge and are an artistic interpretation of the DNA double helix.’
This Sunday’s Commemorative Service has been crafted using elements from historical Services throughout the College’s life and will include participants from across the life of the College including ONU members, parents and staff.
‘We are using Prayers, Bible Readings and hymns that were part of the 1863 Opening Service of the College, the 1881 Opening Service at Stanmore, the 1913 50th Jubilee Service, the 1963 Centenary Service, the 1984 Chapel Inauguration Service and the 2013 Sesquicentenary Service as well as elements from the worshipful life of today,’ says Pastor La’Brooy.
‘We have also invited former Chaplains and Headmasters. Most specially, Rev Dr Peter Swain, who was Chaplain here for 26 years and will be in attendance and speaking. It was his vision that built this Chapel 40 years ago.’
The Service will begin at 10.00am Sunday 15 September at the Stanmore Campus. All are welcome to join us.
40th Anniversary of the College Chapel
Partners, family and friends of the Newington community are encouraged to join us for what will be a memorable and historic occasion on Sunday 15 September from 10.00am.
