The purchase of the Anglican Church of St. Matthew at Mount Russell, near Inverell, New South Wales, Australia and the appointment of a resident Parish Priest has begun a new era for the parish of St. Mark, Inverell.
Since 1992 they have been without a resident priest, and fortnightly
services of Morning Prayer have been held at the Lay Reader's home and
Mass celebrated when a priest was available from the Pro-Cathedral at Brisbane.
But now with their own place of worship, and the arrival of Fr. Michael
Irvine and his family on January 6, and a congregation of 40 on Easter
Day, they are confident of renewed stability and growth.
The historic 75 year old church had very
few worshippers when it was closed by the Anglican Church of Australia.
The parish is also excited about the
purchase of land in the centre of Inverell and plans to move the church
onto the site as soon as possible. Fr. Michael Irvine, was the former Chaplain
of St. Stephen's College, Coomera.