St Mildred's Anglican Church

Values

The place is a good representative example of a small rural Church with influences of Federation Carpenter Gothic style. The place has rarity value through its use of stone in a Carpenter Gothic church. The place has cultural, spiritual and social associations for the local Anglican community since 1926. The fitout of the place appears to be original, with few modifications.

Physical Description

A wooden-framed fibreboard church with random rubble stone foundations to dado height in the Interwar Gothic style. It has a gabled corrugated iron roof with a cross at the apex. A fleche with a cross is located centrally in the roof. The church grounds are enclosed by a post and rail fence and have been well maintained with native species. The windows have diaper patterned leaded glass which has been shaped at the top to resemble a gothic arch. A stained glass window was donated by a local family in commemoration of their mother. The internal joinery appears particularly fine and includes pews with fretted ends, a matching fretted screen above the altar, a hammer beam ceiling and a wooden font. In the ceiling, below the lantern tower is a decorative pierced metal screen. The church is named after the 14th century Church of St Mildred in Tenterden, Kent.

History

In the early 1900s, religious services in Tenterden – attended by European settler families such as the Climies, Townsends and Tufnells – were held at ‘Ballochmyle’, the residence of Hugh Climie. These services were periodically held by Rev Howes. In 1904, the Diocese of Bunbury was formed, and in 1906 Mr Barker was made a parochial district, which included Tenterden. Rev Stansfield was the first rector. He travelled the parish on horseback and, when in Tenterden, was accommodated at ‘Dovedale’, the home of Mr and Mrs Townsend, where he also held his services. Around this time, a state school had opened in Tenterden and a monthly service was held in its premises.

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