The Anglican Parish of Parkes and Peak Hill is thrilled to celebrate 150 years of faith, fellowship and service to the community on the weekend of February 21–23.
This momentous occasion marks a rich history of faith and community, and the parish warmly invites everyone to join in the celebrations.
“We’re thankful to God for the past 150 years of serving our community,” Reverend Ben Mackay said.
"And we’re looking forward to what God will do in the years to come.”
The weekend will feature a series of special events to celebrate this milestone, including:
• Friday, February 21:
4pm – Open house: Come and explore the historic St George’s Parkes church building, view fascinating memorabilia and enjoy live music performed by talented local musicians.
7pm – Guest talk: Simon Smart from the Centre for Public Christianity will deliver an intriguing talk titled 'How the Church Is Better and Worse Than You Ever Imagined'.
• Saturday, February 22:
6pm – Celebration dinner: A formal dinner will be held featuring a keynote speaker and reflections on the parish’s journey through the years.
• Sunday, February 23:
10am - Celebration and Thanksgiving Service: A joyful worship service to thank God for His faithfulness and to celebrate the future of the parish.
The parish has a proud history, first formed in 1875 after which the first timber church was built.
After the original church burned down, it was replaced with a brick church.
The current St George’s Church, a stunning cathedral-like building located on the corner of Church and Hill streets, was built in 1927 and extended in the 1950s.
Over the years, the Anglican church has played a vital role in the life of Parkes, offering spiritual support, community events and a place and community of refuge to all in Parkes.
In addition to St George’s Parkes, the parish is blessed to include St Stephen’s Peak Hill, St Stephen’s Bindogundra, and Holy Trinity Reedy Creek.
“We warmly invite all community members to be part of this celebration," Reverend Mackay said.
"Whether you’re a long-time parishioner, a neighbour or simply curious about the history and central role of the church in the Parkes community, we’d love to welcome you to this special weekend.
"We are blessed with a wonderful church family and a beautiful building that has been shared with the community for generations.”
Come and join the celebrations as Parkes Anglican gives thanks for 150 years of ministry and look ahead to what God has in store for the future.
For more information about the celebrations or to RSVP to the formal dinner, please contact the parish office at (02) 6862 1868 or visit their website parkesanglican.org.au.