The Anglican Parish of St. Margaret of Scotland, also referred to as the Ministry Unit of St. Margaret is located in the suburb of Westcourt. Once largely residential, the area has seen much change over the last 50 years and now has several large shopping centres, many commercial buildings and business premises. Consequently new residential areas have sprung up and we now draw our congregation from a much wider area. Although we do not have as many Indigenous members in our congregation as before, we are still regularly blessed to have their singing and music at our Services and Feast days.
The foundation stone of St. Margaret’s was laid on the 11th October 1959 and dedicated by Bishop Ian Shevill on 31st January 1960 with provision for a lady chapel at a later date. On 5th July 1969 a large crowd gathered as the church was consecrated by Archbishop Phillip Strong, then Primate of the Anglican Church. Inside, the pews provide seating for 120 worshippers, which can be supplemented with chairs for large celebrations catering for up to 250 people.
We remember our Patron Saint each year on 16th November when a parish celebration is held. St Margaret of Scotland, born in 1046, was an intelligent, well educated princess who married King Malcolm of Scotland in 1069 and bore him 8 children. She was a devout Christian woman and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of her subjects and reform the church. She founded many churches, monasteries and pilgrimage hostels and spent much of her private time in prayer and ecclesiastical needlework. She died in 1093 and was canonised in 1249.Stone for the alter was quarried locally near Tinaroo. The central aspect has changed a number of times. The current placement of the stone cross is believed to be the original design. The cross was donated from the church of the same name in London, England which had been bombed during WW II (Plaque on the reverse side). However in 1968 the stone was swapped out for the mosaic (see below) and then at a later date re-installed. The installation and surrounding work was undertaken by Stan Moses, the Atherton based artist.
The 3 foot figure on the 6 foot wooden crucifix behind the altar was carved in the famous Bavarian village of Oberammergau. There are stained glass windows to the sides of the altar, maple furnishings and carvings by the respected Stanley Moses.
The striking mosaic depicting St. Margaret confronts the visitor as they enter the premises. The mosaic was commissioned as a permanent memorial for William Charles (Bill) Pierce who died on the 6th March 1968. The work was commissioned through the Roman Catholic Church in Sydney via a company that assisted with the creation of Church artifacts. The commissioned work was undertaken by crafters in Venice and is formed from Venetian glass. It is based on a painting of St Margaret of Scotland that is held in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.. It is of interest to note that the normal attributes for St Margaret are not present. These being a representation of the poor or a crown at her feet. The mosaic was originally installed on the front of the altar replacing the stone cross but was later moved to its current position. (This positioning on the altar can be seen by visiting the website for Stan Moses artworks.)