On Monday evening nearly two hundred persons assisted at a tea meeting given at the school in commemoration of the opening of St. Mark's Church for Divine service. The 'cup that cheers and not inebriates' having passed around, a public meeting was subsequently held at which the Rev. Mr. Clowes presided. The chairman addressed a few preliminary observations to the meeting, and then called upon Mr. John Langtree to read the report, which was a follows:-

The Building Committee of St. Mark's Church, Collingwood have the honor to present the report of their labors during the year 1854; before doing which, they think it desirable to present a few notices of the previous condition of the parish.

The parish of St. Mark's comprising the north-eastern corner of Fitzroy Ward in the City of Melbourne and the adjoining district, now called East Collingwood, was formerly known as Newtown, a small village in the vicinity of Melbourne inhabited chiefly by the industrious classes or new arrivals, and, within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the minister of St. Peter's Church.

In the year 1849 no church accommodation existed in connection with the Church of England nearer than St. Peter's (just then erected at a cost of about £2,500); but upon the arrival of the Lord Bishop of Melbourne, the late Rev. Daniel Newham, who accompanied his Lordship hither, was at once appointed to the pastoral charge of St. Peter's Church and parish, which then included the present parish of St. Mark, the increased and increasing population of which rendered necessary some additional accommodation for the purposes of public worship and education. Mr. Newham's diligence in the sphere allotted to him must be well remembered by all who knew him. Fully aware of the rising importance of this portion of his parish, and of the necessity existing for church and school accommodation, application was made by him, on behalf of the Collingwood School Committee, for assistance from the Diocesan Society towards the erection of the present brick building, known as the Girls' School; and a grant of £100 was made from its funds in aid of the undertaking, payable 'on the completion of the building within twelve months.' 'This work,' saith the Secretary's reports, 'was carried on with such energy by Mr. Newham and his committee, that the grant was claimed and paid in the month of May, 1849.'

This was then the only permanent school building, and, consequently, is now the oldest Church of England parochial school in the colony. And, in reference to the grant in question a passing remark might be made, that it was not only the first act of the society, but also the last assistance ever given to St. Mark's parish, although repeated applications for aid have since been made to it.

Shortly after the erection of the schools, services were held on the Lord's Day by the assistant minister of St. Peter's Church, the attendance, however, for some time, was very small indeed, on many occasions not more than six or seven adults were present. In the month of June, 1850, the present incumbent of St. Mark's (then a lay preacher of St. Peter's, awaiting ordination) was located in the neighborhood, who immediately commenced a system of pastoral visitation in his district, the results of which were soon evidenced by crowded services on the Lord's Day. And when it was intimated, shortly after, that the Bishop intended to remove him from this to another portion of our Lord's vineyard, a memorial was forwarded to his Lordship, praying that Mr. Clowes might not be removed from Collingwood. And in the "Advocate" newspaper of May, 1851, the following just tribute was paid to our present pastor's labors:-

"When Mr. Clowes was first appointed, he scarcely had a dozen adults in his congregation, but now the room is often so full, as not to afford accommodation for all who wish to attend. Mr. Clowes has been indefatigable in bringing about this desirable state of things, visiting almost every cottage in the district constantly. The free and gentlemanly conduct exhibited by him in his pastoral visits, together with the plain, earnest, and affectionate nature of his pulpit discourses, have caused him to be universally respected."

In reference to Mr. Clowes' removal from Collingwood, a numerous public meeting was held in the Girls' School on the 15th May 1851, the Rev. Samuel Edward Bloomfield, B.A. in the chair, to consider a proposal from the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, in reply to the memorial before mentioned, which resulted in the appointment of a committee to raise the sum of £50, the amount proposed by his Lordship to be contributed by the congregation towards Mr. Clowes' stipend, the remainder being provided out of funds at the Bishop's disposal. From this meeting the congregation may date their recognition as a Church, it being the commencement of their being called upon as a body to contribute towards the support of their minister and the ordinances of public worship.

On Trinity Sunday, 1851, at St. James's Cathedral, Mr. Clowes was ordained a Deacon, and on the 21st of December, 1853 a Priest of the Church of England; and he preached his first sermon as an ordained minister of the Gospel, to the congregation assembled in the Girls' School, on Sunday, the 22nd of June, 1854.

In the same month, that portion of Collingwood north of Gertrude Street, and west of the Yarra, at East Collingwood, was separated from St. Peter's by the Lord Bishop of Melbourne, and made into a distinct parish called St. Mark's, when the minister and people may be said to have entered upon the exercise and enjoyment of all the functions and privileges of an associated Christian Church.

The population of the newly-formed parish of St. Mark was then estimated at 3,000 souls; but so rapid was the increase in numbers immediately after the discovery of gold, that in the following year it was estimated at 9,000, and at the present time it is believed to contain at least 8,000 souls, one-half of whom are members of the Episcopal Church. For this large and increasing population, the only accomodation was the school before mentioned, capable of holding about 300 persons, which on the Lord's Day was used for Divine service and Sabbath schools. The crowded state of the room at this period demanded that some immediate steps should be taken for providing increased accommodation. Accordingly, on the 14th of April, 1852, a public meeting was held, the Very Rev. the Dean in the chair, when it was resolved to open a subscription for the erection of a parish church as soon as practicable; and at the close of the meeting subscriptions amounting to about £400 were acknowledged, and a committee formed for the purpose of raising funds, and adopting such measures as might forward the object in view. This committee met monthly, or occasionally, for about twelve months to receive subscriptions, and the transaction of other business connected therewith, and after maturely considering upon a suitable site, and the various materials with which the proposed church should be erected, it was finally decided that the edifice should be of stone, and the site for its erection the land adjoining the schools, purchased for the church and school purposes by the Bishop, and formerly the property of John Hodgson, Esq., M.L.C.

The great influx of population into the parish about this time called aloud for additional school rooms. Accordingly a subscription was entered into, and, it is due to state that, through the exertions of the minister and the late respected Mr. Blackburn, assisted by other friends, the present stone building, known as the Boys' School, was erected, at a cost of £1,200, which also gave increased accommodation for the purpose of public worship on the Lord's Day, but not at all adequate to the requirements of the parish. The committee therefore decided to commence the erection of a new church, and on the 31st July, 1853, availing themselves of a great national holiday (the birthday of our colonial independence), the foundation stone was laid by the Lord Bishop of Melbourne, in presence of several members of the Legislative and Municipal Councils, and a large number of the parishoners. The plans were prepared by Mr. James Blackburn in the Early English style of architecture, and the building was estimated to cost about £5,000, and to contain, when finished, about 1,000 sittings. This expenditure the committee did not hesitate to undertake, encouraged as they were by very liberal subscriptions - but they regret to state that the estimate proved very erroneous, and that they have been led on from step to step to a total expenditure of £16,500, as shown by the annexed accounts. It is to be remembered, however, that the work was carried on at a period when wages and material of every kind were uncommonly dear, without any reasonable prospect of their being reduced.

After the walls of the church had been raised to the level of the wall plates, the formation of its roof proceeded with vigor, and eight massive principals were raised into position - but before these could be stayed, an unforseen calamity occurred. On the Sabbath morning of the 17th day of September 1854 during a fearful gale of wind, they were all overturned, and falling inwards, were, from their great weight, broken into fragments. This calamity, however, awakened the generous sympathies of the people, and the appeal of your committee for help to repair it was nobly and spiritedly responded to; a sum of about £200 was subscribed on the morning of the catastrophe, and the remainder was collected by a few gentlemen who volunteered their valuable services in the time of need; and the result has been a great improvement to the interior of the church. The external part, in consequence of the great and unexpected cost of what had been done, has, so far as the two towers are concerned, been left in a very imperfect state. The eastern belfry has been covered in over the clock chamber, and the main tower has only been carried to the first floor. The completion of these parts of the original design is left by your committee to the piety of others, whose zeal for the edification of the Lord's house has been so exemplary.

Your committee feel that they would be remiss not to particularise some of those whose disinterested labor the church of St. Mark is principally indebted:-

1st. The ground on which the church and schools are erected was provided by the Lord Bishop, and bought by him at a private sale of land, and conveyed without charge to the trustees.

2nd. The Rev. James A. Clowes and his lady have been untiring in their efforts to collect monies and stimulate their people by their own example. The amount realised by their personal efforts was about £2,000, of which sum about £600 was contributed specially towards the seats and fittings.

The late James Blackburn, Esq., City Surveyor of Melbourne, and Trustee of St. Mark's was indefatigable in his exertions to raise the church. He collected a very large sum, and was assidious at all meetings of the committee.

Charles Currie, Esq., presented the handsome window of the church, and lent a sum of £500 free of interest for twelve months.

Richard Grice, Esq., besides a subscription of £250 at the commencement of the undertaking, purchased, at a cost of about £1,000, all the wood, lead, and slates necessary for the roof and floor, and presented the same free of charge, except the freight from England.

Councillor John Matthew Smith has given a grant of land, containing about 1 acre, 0 rods, 29 perches, beautifully situated, with frontages to four streets, as an endowment to the church; of which this parish is to have the exclusive benefit, until the church which we have raised is free from debt. This has been divided into 16 allotments, and will be let to tenants at an annual rent, without purchase - and leases given, varying in length according to the nature of the improvement which the tenant contemplates, and the amount raised annually in this way will be thrown into a sinking fund for the gradual liquidation of the debt.

The plastering of the whole church was accomplished through the exertions principally of Mr. Langtree, without any aid from the general fund, at a total cost of about £400.

A handsome silver Communion service has been sent for to England at the cost of F. R. Wallen, Esq.

The massive stone Communion rail was the gift of Messrs. J. and C. Candy.

The decoration of the chancel roof was done, without charge, by Mr. Bridges.

The white marble font was another gift of Richard Grice, Esq.

A set of church books, value £30, was presented by Mrs. Blackburn.

A Brussels carpet for the chancel, by Mr. Booth.

Crimson velvet cushions for pulpit, reading-desk, &c., by Mrs. Dr. Tracey.

The lettering of the tablets of chancel is to be done gratuitously by Mr. Moore.

The ladies of the congregation also deserve special notice for the labor which they undertook in getting up a Bazaar in aid of the church, by which the sum of £600 was realised. Those articles which remained after this Bazaar formed the groundwork of a second one, which was held in the school room, and by which the sum of £104 14s. was realised.

The committee thought it their duty to apply to the Government for a piece of ground for a parsonage, and obtained half an acre in Moore Street, being the most convenient piece in the gift of the Government; and seeing that there was a public fund out of which they could calculate in receiving aid, if they would build a parsonage - thought it their duty to commence, and to secure what might be available. This desirable work has been completely finished, and the whole land handsomely enclosed. The entire cost was £2,000, towards which your committee received special contributions amounting to £200, and a grant from Government of £400. The minister, who is now living in this glebe, has entered into an engagement with the trustee to pay £200 per annum (by way of interest) until the debt incurred by this erection has been paid off.

The Boys' School had an average attendance during the last year of 150 scholars, the Girls' School had about 200; and both were in consequence so crowded, that it became necessary to provide additional accommodation. Your committee, therefore, undertook this also, and have to report the completion of the Infant School, at a total cost of £1,300. To this, the Denominational Board contributed £600, and some special contributions were received. The opening of this school has been attended with the happiest results. Not only are the infants enabled to receive the vocal and musical instruction so well adapted for their early training, but the male and female schools have been, by the separation of the infants, placed in a state of much greater efficiency.

Having thus detailed the works which have been done during the past year, your committee desire to express their regret that a few necessary works still remain to be done, which the trustees cannot undertake, as their labors must now be directed wholly to the liquidation of the debt incurred.

First. The unfinished state of the large tower detracts from the architectural beauty of that portion of the church, and will make a very uncomfortable portico in winter. It is considered that a sum of £250 would raise this to the height of the ridge, at which point it might be covered in, so as to remain for years.

Second. The fencing, laying out, trenching, and planting of the area surrounding the church, isolating it from the schools, and preserving it from the risk to which it will be otherwise exposed by the thoughtless playfulness of children, would cost about £150. These two objects are submitted to the consideration of the parishoners, in the hope that some may be found who would take them up, and so give a finishing hand to the great work.

It remains to be stated that the debt upon the church is about £7,000, and on the parsonage about £2,000. The former sum the trustees hope, if Providence bless the efforts which have been made, that they may be able gradually to liquidate. They are desirous fully to develop the legitimate resources of the purse before making it the subject of any special appeal.

With respect to the parsonage, it appears there must be a special election of trustees for it and as this will probably soon take place, it is hoped that through their exertions the debt upon it will not long remain.

In conclusion, the committee beg to state that they have expended, in all, a sum of about £21,000 on church, parsonage, and schools, during their term of office; and they gladly retire from the arduous and anxious duties which you have entrusted to them, in the fervent hope the Lord of Heaven and Earth, who has gathered us here unto one place from far distant lands, may accept our humble labors, and cause His great name to be loved and honored in the Church of St. Mark, Collingwood, both by this and succeeding generations, till the whole earth be filled with His glory.

Signed on behalf of the Committee.

JOHN LANGTREE,
Honorary Secretary

January 29th, 1855.

The report was received with loud applause. Its adoption was moved by the Rev. Septimus Lloyd Chase, seconded by Mr. John Weir, and carried unanimously.

The Very Rev. the Dean of Melbourne congratulated the parishoners of St. Mark's upon what they had effected since the design of erecting a church in the locality was originally projected two years and a half ago. He wished to correct a slight error in the report they had just read. Instead of St. Peter's being the nearest church in 1849, St. James's was.

The meeting was also addressed by the Chairman, who approved of a suggestion to pay off the debt gradually by weekly subscriptions of the parishoners; Mr. Baker (who proposed a vote of thanks to the Dissenters for the assistance received from them in the erection of the church; Dr. Tracy, and Messrs. Langtree and Curtis.

The Doxology having been sung, a collection was made, and the meeting separated. The following is a return of the amounts collected:-

Amount of the collection at the meeting - £12; sale of tickets - £20; collected on the day of opening £120 12s.; collected on the following day - £28 11s. Total - £181 3s.