Anglican Parish of Samford
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The Diocese of Southern Queensland
Anglican Parish of Samford
St Paul’s Samford Parish Prayer
All loving, Creator God,
pour down your Holy Spirit upon your community of St Paul.
Help us to discern your glorious vision for us in this place;
give us a new faithfulness to Your Word and
a new consecration to Your service;
Transform our hearts so that through our renewed witness
your Holy Name may be glorified and your kingdom advanced;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen
Welcome to St Paul’s Anglican Church, Samford
Belong, Believe, Be Transformed
We at St Paul’s believe we are unique. Our parish has a special place in our local community, as one of only a few
churches with permanent homes in the beautiful Samford Valley. We embrace a multi-age ministry with strong
connections to our local neighbourhood.
The Samford Valley is a rare locality with all the advantages of being only 21km from the Brisbane CBD, but it is still a
tranquil semi-rural hamlet, featuring a well serviced village with most of the population living on acreage properties
within a short drive. Nestled in the leafy valley created by the D'Aguilar Range we are also bordered by the Samford State
Forest, part of Brisbane Forest Park giving every drive to and from the Valley a contemplative reward for the trip.
We have a broad age range of people in our church family from toddlers to school age families, through to empty nesters
and retirees. We welcome all, and worship together with something for everyone in worship to feel relaxed and at home.
Our Church and grounds have a distinctly peaceful, country feel, against a backdrop of mountains, lush fields, jacaranda trees, cattle and horses typical of the Samford Valley. Visitors will feel a sense of calm and welcome through a charming open area courtyard, gardens, greenery and plenty of safe spaces for the children to run and explore. Our church bell calls us to worship each Sunday and has a special place in our heart as it has been a labour of love to obtain the bell and have it ringing. Sundays are particularly special as friends and family gather for worship and afterwards enjoy home-style morning tea in the leafy sun dappled courtyard. Most parishioners stay for morning tea and even though we have two services each morning, the two cohorts have the opportunity to intermingle between services to share a moment of fellowship. Samford is still a growing area and St Paul’s continues to attract those who feel we can become their new Anglican home. We are still increasing our ministry to the local population. We connect regularly with the local community through monthly markets and community celebrations. The church draws people from Samford, Ferny Grove and Eaton’s Hill with many travelling reasonable distances from Northern suburbs of Brisbane and Moreton Shire. An Anglican presence in Samford was established with the construction of the first St Paul’s Church on the present site in 1924, by the Anglican families in the Samford and surrounding areas. Half an acre of land was purchased in September 1922 from Mr Cash for the sum of £40. The first service was held in Samford on Sunday 30th December 1923, possibly in the Farmer’s Hall. The tender of £275 for the erection of the timber church building was accepted in April 1924 and the foundation stone was laid on 28th June 1924.
St Paul’s was dedicated by Bishop Le Fanu on Sunday 31 August 1924. At that time, the Samford Valley was a rural area with dairy farming and timber as its main industries. For the next 66 years, St Paul’s was a rural outpost of the Grovely Parish, and church services were conducted by visiting priests or retired clergy living in the area. The present church building was originally constructed in 1902 at 67 Samford Road Alderley and dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. In 1922 it was moved to the corner of Camborne Street and Glenalva Terrace, Alderley. The Sanctuary was added in 1958. With the sale of the Camborne Street site in October 1988, this building was generously gifted by the Parish of Enoggera to the Parish of Grovely and removed to Samford. The original St Paul’s Church was retained on the site and converted to use as a hall. St Mary’s building was rededicated as St Paul’s, Samford on Wednesday 21st December 1988, the feast of St Thomas, Apostle and Martyr, by +John Grindrod, Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate of Australia. We value our longevity and connection to the past, we even have a member worshipping in Samford who were baptized in the church over 70 years ago when it was in Alderley. Many of our parishioners came to St Paul’s with young children and now have worshipped here for longer than 30 years. Samford became a Provisional Parish in 1990 and has supported a part-time stipended ministry until 2009. In 2011 provisional status was lifted with the Archbishop declaring Samford to be a full parish. The Rectory was acquired by the Diocese in 1991. Something unusual: Our current St Paul’s has been dedicated to two different saints during it’s history. A small side chapel has been established and dedicated to St Mary in honour of the church’s history. This side chapel is favoured for quiet contemplation outside services, or as the perfect children’s space for all-age services.
Samford Demographics Based on the last census (2015) the following are population statistics for the Samford Valley Total Population 11636 Median age 42.3 Unemployment rate 4% Population under 20 years 3407 Of people in Samford Valley (State Suburbs) aged 15 years and over, 67.2% were married and 5.9% were either divorced or separated and of people aged 15 years and over, 66.5% of people were in a registered marriage and 5.7% were in a de facto marriage. The Valley is a fairly homogenous group with the most common ancestries as English 31.0%, Australian 28.4%, Scottish 9.8%, Irish 9.2% and German 4.6%.
The Anglican Tradition
The Samford Valley has a slightly higher affiliation to the Anglican tradition than the Australian average, with the
following religious statistics from 2015:
(* due to small ABS boundary differences there is a slight total population difference to reported above.t
Another interesting (and heartwarming) statistic of the Samford Valley is 27.5% of all residents over 15 years did some
volunteer work in the previous year compared to 19% of the general Australian population.
Around Samford Valley Samford is in South East Queensland, a mere 21km from Brisbane. Access is via Samford Road through the Brisbane Forest Park and from there, a train line at Ferny Grove can take you everywhere (and bring you back because you will never want to leave). Samford is surrounded by picturesque hills which have been homes to prolific pineapple and banana farms in the past as well as a strong dairy industry. Over time these main industries have gone and the Valley now boasts mainly rural residential with the occasional horse property and hobby farm. Further afield within the parish boundaries are Mount Glorious, Mount Nebo and Mount Samson communities and larger properties.
Samford Village contains a mix of historical buildings, restaurants, shops and services. Samford’s heritage as a village servicing farming communities is apparent from the facilities which include a saddlery, hardware and produce stores, as well as shopping, medical, paramedical, fitness, legal, travel and accounting among other services. The Samford community has also embraced its own banking establishment, owning the Samford Community Bank (a part of the Bendigo Community Banking Franchise). The Samford Valley is a popular tourist destination for Brisbanites and others, as evidenced by the new Tourist Information centre set up in John Scott Park by the Moreton Bay Regional Council, Samford has become a true tourist hub. Other than a plethora of coffee shops there is a large and well-appointed museum which has many local historical buildings. Some of these include the old Ferny grove Railway Station and a reproduction of a slab hut school house. John Scott Park, half way along Main St, is built on the old Samford Railway Station site. Though no longer continuing to Samford, the railway celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. The park is the venue for regular community and cultural events. Some of these include free concerts, community expos and a very special ‘Christmas in the Village’ evening in December attracting several thousand people. The park has an exciting children’s play area with a large selection of playground equipment, as well as seating and BBQ facilities which are especially well used on weekends.
The Slab Hut gallery located on the edge of John Scott Park, beside the information centre, is an art and craft gallery. The gallery is fully staffed by volunteers who are themselves exhibitors there. Samford has a large and vibrant arts community who also manage a four week open home/gallery scheme each June known as ‘The Arts Trail’ to showcase their talents. In Main Street there are gift shops, boutiques and even more wonderful eateries. The Samford Avenue of Honour, an 800m walk honouring fallen Australian service men and women was constructed to be opened on Anzac Day 2015. St Paul’s contributed to the Avenue’s construction and has continued to support it since through the Samford Valley Markets. The Avenue of Honour is a section of a very well- patronized 4 km walking circuit which links the village, soccer grounds, dog park and back to the village.
Activities in Samford In addition to the Samford Scout Group, the Scout Association of Queensland operates Baden Powell Park. An easy walk to the Village, Baden Powell Park consists of 56 hectares of natural bush land bordering the Brisbane Forest Park. Included within the grounds are modern fully equipped conference facilities for up to 150, commercial kitchen, accommodation blocks, camping ground, swimming pool, dam, abseiling tower as well as walking trails of various grades throughout the park. Baden Powell Park is the venue for a number of activities open to the public such as laser skirmish and abseiling. The Baden- Powell Heritage Centre & Museum is also open to scouting groups and to the general public on weekends. The area is a haven for bike groups: push bikes, mountain bikes and motorbikes. There are many hiking trails locally and it is a source of joy to explore on foot. Some of the local sports played in and around town include archery, swimming, horse riding, soccer, rugby league, cricket, netball, tennis and lawn bowls. The Moreton Bay Regional Council acquired the former CSIRO land which is on the northern edge of the village comprising of some 140 ha. The Council has built a sport and recreation facility that has become a major resource for the residents of Samford Valley and the Moreton Bay Regional Council. There is rarely a time when some part isn’t being used.
Samford And Beyond Civic Amenities
Parish Staffing
Samford Parish is a full parish, having provisional status removed in 2011. The
Parish Priest position is a full-time paid position. The last five Priests-in-
Charge were the Revd. Nicole Anderson (2014-2018), the Revd. Cameron
Freese (2009–2013), the Ven. Jim Nolan (2003-2008), the Revd. Ray Clifton
(2000-2003) and the Revd. Patrick Doulin (1994-2000). There has also been an
Honorary Priest, the Revd. Jack Hammer (2004-2005).
There are 5 Liturgical Assistants. A parish volunteer assists with the weekly
pew bulletins and service booklets. We have a voluntary organist who provides
the music for worship at 9am and a voluntary pianist who plays fortnightly at
7:30am.
St Paul’s is cleaned by parishioners on a fortnightly roster system, alternating
with professional cleaners on the other fortnight. The grounds and gardens are
maintained by parishioners and volunteers. The Sacristan role is taken up by 2
parishioners. All parishioners including the youth participate in welcoming and
all adult parishioners are involved with Prayer Cover. The Priest-in-Charge is
supported by a Parish Council which currently meets on the fourth Wednesday of
each month at 7.00 p.m. and consists of: 1 Priest’s Warden, 2 People’s Wardens, 2
Synod Representatives, 3 Parish Nominators, 8 Parish Councillors and a treasurer.
The many other duties in the parish are carried out by dedicated parishioners as a
part of a weekly ministry roster.Churches and Buildings The Samford precinct includes the Church, the Rectory and the Parish Hall. The Church is located at 12 Mt Samson Road, Samford and the Rectory is located at 2 Serendipity Drive, Samford. The original St Paul’s Church was retained on the site and converted for use as a hall. It has a modern kitchen and has been used for many years by a variety of community groups. It is used weekly for youth ministry and regularly for church functions. It is hired by community groups and music teachers and is suitable for yoga and fitness groups, markets stalls, family parties and other community based events. The church and hall were painted in 2011. There were some major repairs carried out at that time to the stairs, gables, porch and the crosses on top of the church and hall. The font was also plumbed in for ease of removing water after baptisms. This is piped into the memorial garden at the front of the church.
.The church was re-carpeted and significant drainage work was carried out in
2013. Recently our bell was installed with a new garden and sandstone
retaining wall.
Due to a generous bequest, we have been able to create the David Baxter
room, which is a dedicated parish office under the church, we have also
completed battening the storage area. We have had both pianos and the
organ tuned.
A Memorial Garden at the front of the church is a quiet space for meditation
or a shady area for summer mornings. We have operated a Labyrinth walk
next to the garden for several years which has proven a popular
contemplative space for all ages.
(L) Memorial
Garden
(R) Blessing the
new David Baxter
RoomAssets
Rectory
Situated next to the church yard and only a few minutes walk to Samford Village, the rectory is convenient to everything. A
3 bedroom brick residence with air-conditioning in the living areas and main bedroom, it is a comfortable abode. The house
yard is fully fenced, though the property boundary is not. The block is level with an outdoor covered area. In 2013, major
upgrades were carried out on the rectory including modernisation of the kitchen, new appliances, new carpet, new doors,
new covered patio and construction of the wooden fence around the rectory.
Vehicle
The parish currently covers travel expenses for the parish
priest. We do not have a parish vehicle. However, we do have a
bequest for the purchase of a small parish vehicle if this
becomes necessary.
Other Facilities & Resources
The Parish has a new laptop. Broadband is available in the office, vestry and the Rectory. A leased Toshiba colour
printer/copier/scanner services the needs of the Parish adequatelyCongregation St Paul’s Samford comprises approximately 60-70 regular attendees across the two weekly Sunday services. The majority of the congregation is comprised of adult couples and singles aged 50 plus. There has been an increase in couples & singles in the 30-50 age bracket and some increase in those with school aged children. There are few young adults attending high school.
Liturgical Expression & Style The liturgical expression of the church could be generally considered middle Anglican (Anglo-Catholic), reflecting a community that places a high importance on the sacrament of Holy Communion and the wearing of robes within their spirituality. There are two regular services each Sunday, at 7.30am and 9.00am. All services are taken from A Prayer Book for Australia (APBA) and Lectionary. The 7.30am service is a said Eucharist with hymns twice per month. The 9.00am service is a sung Eucharist. Liturgies are commensurate with the Liturgical Commission of Australia for Easter and Christmas. There are also specific Lenten studies as well as purposeful preparation of candidates for baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage and lay ministries. Once a month there are Healing and Thanksgiving services at both 7:30 and 9:00am and once a month there is a very well attended ‘All Age’ service at 9:00am when the youth play a major part in the service. Music The hymns for worship at the regular Sunday services come predominately from Together in Song (TIS) with occasional use of Mission Praise. Music is provided by an organist and a piano player. .
Other Traditions
Christmas
Christmas Eve has had the tradition of a 6:00pm children’s service followed by a 7:00pm
said Eucharist. There is an 8:00am Eucharist on Christmas Morning. From Christmas Day
to the end of January the practice has been to combine the morning services at 8:00am. A
Lessons and Carols service held in early December has been very successful in
encouraging visitors from the broader community. This is an ecumenical service shared
with Sacred Heart Catholic Church Samford congregants.
Holy Week
Holy Week is preceded by two morning services on Palm Sunday celebrating the
Liturgy of the Palms. We have recently included a walk into the church with a
donkey to celebrate the walk into Jerusalem. A Palm Sunday Taize Service has
been held at 6pm. Maundy Thursday commences with an Agape meal which
leads into the celebration of the Last Supper with Foot washing. Good Friday has
one service with Ante- Communion at 8:00am following Stations of the Cross.
This has been followed by the sharing of Hot Cross Buns. Holy Saturday has a
vigil Eucharist with the lighting of the new fire and blessing of the paschal candle
commencing at 6:00pm. Easter day has one Eucharist at 8:00am.
All Saints
All Saints has traditionally been celebrated on the first Sunday of November. It is a service which combines elements of
All Souls and has been an opportunity to commemorate the departed.Occasional
There have been other occasional services throughout the year with varying
themes- e.g. Taize, Celtic, St Francis Day etc. These have always been well
attended and have been a source of great joy for the community.
ANZAC Day
The whole Samford Community recognises the
long tradition our parish has of organising and
conducting the Jolly's Lookout service on
ANZAC day. The 6:00am sunrise service is an
opportunity for current and ex-servicemen
and women to participate in a safe non-
threatening environment. This is an extremely
well attended service attracting around 400
people yearly from a wide area. The Sunrise
Service is a very important part of our identity
and our outreach. In the past we have also
been involved with the ANZAC march through
the village and the local RSL service at 8:30am.Active and Outreach Ministries Small Groups There are a number of groups meeting in the parish contributing to growth and development. Study groups cover a diverse range of topics. In total there are almost 30 parishioners actively involved in study groups. There are 4 groups in total, 1 women’s and 1 men’s ‘Simply Christian’, 1 women’s study group and 1 other mixed study group. Simply Christian: This group was established in 2009. It initially started as a group which worked through Bp Tom Wright’s book ‘Simply Christian’. It is an in depth study group and it has often sought to tackle difficult subject matter. They have also explored the ‘Be’ series and the ‘Pilgrim’ series. Simply Christian is a growing study group with two groups who meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, one in the church hall at 7pm. There are two further groups; one meeting Tuesday AM and a 4th group meeting at Farrington Grove Retirement Estate. Lenten Studies: Each year there are approximately 45 parishioners over several meeting times involved in Lenten studies. Men’s Fellowship: Providing a unique expression of fellowship, there is a
Active and Outreach Ministries
Small Groups continued
Cursillo:
Samford has a strong history of involvement with Cursillo.
Many parishioners have participated in Cursillo weekends and a
few have also been on team. There is a desire for a resurgence in
this area with greater connection to the wider Brisbane movement.
There is a regular Cursillo Reunion group which meets in the
church hall the first Friday of the month.
Coffee Group:
One Friday a month, members of the parish meet in
an informal way at one of the coffee shops in Samford to share
fellowship. It is casual and fun so is a special way to renew or
create new bonds within our congregation.Children’s Ministry
Sunday School runs each Sunday at the 9am service during the
school term, following the ‘Sermons4Kids’ curriculum. The
children go to Sunday School after the opening hymn and are
invited to participate and return to join the congregation during
the communion. The children are also involved in an ‘All ages
Service’ on the second Sunday of the Month. We have 4-5 rostered
Sunday School teachers, all of them Blue Card holders.
Youth Ministry
As a prelude to adulthood within our congregation and to create a
bridge from Sunday School, we have initiated a special venture
known as ‘Saints in Action’ (SIA). Open to children 10 years and up,
they are mentored by adult parishioners in all aspects of being a
full member of the congregation. They perform tasks and receive
badges as a symbol of their proficiency. There are approximately 16
areas of practice at the moment including welcoming, hospitality,
floral works, photography, serving ministry etc
(Left) Our SIA enjoying a 'Japanese Themed' fellowship night.Pastoral Care Visits by members of the Pastoral Care Team in conjunction with the Parish Priest are conducted. A confidential chain of parishioners seek to serve the parish by taking immediate prayer needs that arise. Immediate confidential intercessions are provided for people in situations such as distress, accident, surgery, loss, etc. Labyrinth ithin the church grounds there is a Labyrinth which is well loved by parishioners and is also enjoyed by market and other visitors. There is always information available to support those who wish to utilize this special asset. It has featured as a Station of the Wellbeing Trail at the inaugural Samford Festival. Samford Divine Delights A catering group involving men and women from the parish who prepare, cook and serve food catering for small to medium functions associated with the SQ Diocese. These include Ordinands dinners and Spiritual Direction intensive meals at St Francis College, Retired Clergy Christmas functions and Seafarers morning tea.
Samford Valley Markets
St Paul’s organises the Samford Valley Markets which are held in
the Church grounds on the 2nd Saturday of each month. They have
become an established village event and now draw people in from
far and wide. Stalls range from arts & crafts to fresh produce and
preserves. The markets commence at 7am and conclude at 12noon.
Each month the Markets make a donation to a local charity or
organization in the area.
The parish supports the Archbishop’s Appeal in November and the
Christmas Appeal, as well as occasional retiring collections.
SPADEwerx
St Paul’s Amateur Dramatic Entertainment We aRe Christians (X) came into being in 2010 with performances in Samford
of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The cast and crew consist mainly of complete beginners with one or two
experienced folk.
SPADEwerx belongs to St Paul’s Anglican Church, Samford but membership is open to all. There are normally two
productions a year staged in the Samford Farmers Hall. Significant donations are made to charities after productions.Financial The Executive Committee meet to prepare a draft budget which is taken to the AGM for ratification by the Parish. During the past 5 years the parish’s budget has just been met. The Parish is financially fully responsible, meeting all expenses through strong fiscal responsibility, generous patrons, hard-working parishioners and lots of prayer. Currently the Parish is debt free. The Priest’s stipend is almost covered by offerings as planned giving and open plate. Parishioners generously give time, talents and financially to ensure that the budget outcome is positive. The financial status is largely supported by funds coming from the activities of Samford Valley Markets and Divine Delights.
Future Directions & Vision
St Paul’s Vision 2019
St Paul’s is a self-sufficient, community based, relevant and progressive parish. We are engaged with all in spiritual growth
through education, worship and diversity.
St Paul’s Mission Statement
To be a welcoming, caring and worshipping community of faith, making Christ known by word and deed in our local
community and beyond in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Directions
In support of our Mission Statement, we believe growth in closeness to God is happening as a parish due to the continual
focus on our strategy with God’s help.
As a parish we are working with a strategic plan which is detailed below. This plan came about from an initial facilitated
parish planning day attended by approximately 20 parishioners and subsequent follow up discussions. All parishioners were
given the opportunity to contribute to the development of the pillars on the next page.
The pillars for growth and development below are our core focus for the coming years. Most of the Parish Council has
signed up to be a driver in at least one pillar and a large number of the congregation have signed up to contribute to a pillar.
The concept is that every action we take relates to one or more of the pillars, being for the Glory of God. For each action we
ask, ‘Does it fit the vision and mission’? Following from that is the action which fits into a pillar as ‘what we do’.Future Directions & Vision
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