Former Wondai Parish locum Fr John Pryce-Davies (Brisbane Valley), retired locum Canon Ron Dyson (Hillcrest), Right Rev Robert Nolan (Bishop of the Western Region) and Fr Tony Swansson (Kingaroy)

October 2, 2012

The tiny St Faith’s Anglican Church at Mondure celebrated a big anniversary at the weekend with former parishioners travelling from all over the South Burnett and beyond for its centenary.

St Faith’s was dedicated on October 6, 1912 … but it wasn’t actually located at Mondure in those days. The building was at nearby Kawl Kawl and didn’t make it to Mondure until 1924 when it was shifted “after a controversial meeting”.

In the early days of settlement in Mondure, Anglican services were held once a month by the Bush Brotherhood from Gayndah on the front verandah of ‘Marshlands’, owned by Mr E.J. McConnell.

Mr McConnell played a big role in the early history of St Faith’s. Not only did he donate the original land at Kawl Kawl, he also donated the second block of land at Mondure. He also paid all costs for the erection of the church, an impressive £250.

It was obviously needed … eight baptisms were held the day it opened!

Right Rev Robert Nolan, Bishop of the Western Region, travelled to Mondure to officiate at the Centenary Celebration service on Saturday.

Families who have left the area as well as former priests and visiting clergy also returned for the occasion, swapping memories after the service and browsing through the small pioneer cemetery at the rear of the church grounds.

They then retired to the Mondure Hall to enjoy lunch and join in the cutting of the Centenary cake.

Kaylene Kapernick, from Kingaroy, Laurel Layt, from Wondai; Darrell Weier, from Kingaroy; and Mondure resident Beth Weier
Ed and Jennifer Wilson, Brisbane … Ed’s great-grandparents George and Emma Hampshire were on the founding committee for St Faith’s
Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell and Cr Kathy Duff
Ann Harrold and Nalda Seng, from Proston
Dorothy and Ross Warren, from Kawl Kawl, with Ewen McIntosh, from Boonara