The Eternity waterfall after 40 years

Forty years ago, the Eternity plaque at the waterfall in Sydney Square was unveilled.

On Tuesday, 12th July 1977, The Sydney Morning Herald’s Column 8 wrote:

“TRUE to his words of last November, Ridley Smith, the Sydney Square architect, has immortalised the late Arthur Stace, ‘Mr Eternity’. You may recall that Column 8 campaigned unashamedly for a suitable memorial to Mr Stace, Sydney’s footpath evangelist for 20 years until 1967. Ridley Smith promised it without strings.

TODAY, the memorial above will be officially unveilled (a small explanatory plaque is yet to come). Yesterday Column 8 had an informal peek. Mr Stace would be proud. There, set in aggregate near the Sydney Square waterfall, in letters almost 21cm (8 in) high, is the famous copperplate message. ‘Eternity’. The one-word sermon gleams in wrought aluminium. There’s no undue prominence. No garish presentation. Merely the simple ‘Eternity’ on the pebbles, as Arthur Stace would have wanted it.”

In 1994, journalist Alan Gill wrote, “The waterfall adjoins a modest cafeteria. [The Architect of St. Andrew’s House and Sydney Square, Ridley] Smith once told me that he hoped visitors would say ‘Meet you at Eternity’ as well as ‘Meet you in Eternity’.” (1)

Ridley Smith (pictured) was named for evangelist John G. Ridley, who was a friend of his father. In November 1932, Arthur Stace had been in the congregation at the Burton Street Tabernacle in Darlinghurst when John Ridley preached on the need to be ready for eternity. It was this sermon which inspired Stace to begin his 34 year campaign of writing that word on the streets of Sydney.

Arthur Stace died on 30 July 1967, fifty years ago this month.

Did the ‘small explanatory plaque’ mentioned by Column 8 ever appear? In 1994, Alan Gill wrote that some complained “the present inscription is ‘out of the way’ and doesn’t explain who Arthur Stace was. Other admirers of Arthur disagree. They believe the ‘odd’ location of the present tribute and the absence of an explanation are part of that blend of mystery and surprise that ‘Mr Eternity’ himself would appreciate.”

(Top photo showing the waterfall on the day of the unveilling, and the photo of Architect Ridley Smith in 2009, courtesy Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos. Ramon adds, “Ridley Smith sprinkled water around the ‘Eternity’ replica so as to help photograph it.” While the pavement around the memorial has been replaced, “Eternity” on the pebbles remains, as seen in this 2014 photo.)

(1) Alan Gill, “Sydney’s Phantom Preacher”, The Catholic Weekly, 31 August 1994.

Interview with William Taylor: Impressions of Sydney & Australian Evangelicalism

“Sometimes the best lessons are learned from someone on the outside looking in. We chat to William Taylor of St Helen’s Bishopsgate London regarding his impressions of evangelicalism in Sydney and Australia, drawing on his recent visit in late 2016-early 2017.”

– Read the interview at The Australian Church Record.

Albert Mohler speaks with John Anderson

In his latest ‘Thinking in Public’ series of conversations, Albert Mohler speaks with former Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson (mp3 audio).

Well worth hearing.

 

Craig Roberts to be new Youthworks CEO

Here’s an announcement from Youthworks –

“The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev Glenn Davies, and Youthworks Council Chair, the Rev Chris Braga are most pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev Craig Roberts BEc BD(Hons) DipMin MA(Theol) to the position of Chief Executive Officer of Youthworks.  Craig will be joining Youthworks after fourteen years as the Senior Minister at Neutral Bay Anglican Church.  Read more

Changes

Two announcements made today:

“…after an extensive search and interview process, the [Trinity Grammar] School Council has unanimously appointed Mr Tim Bowden as the next Head Master of Trinity Grammar School. He will commence in January 2018…

Mr Bowden is currently Principal of Inaburra School.”

Full announcement here (PDF file).

and Paul Bootes, Koorong CEO, is retiring.

“Koorong has announced that long serving CEO Paul Bootes will retire in early July when his brother Rob Bootes will succeed him as CEO. Paul, a 40 year veteran of the Christian bookselling industry, has overseen the expansion of the original bookshop in his parents’ house in Sydney to the 15 store chain and online business that it is today.”

– from a Koorong / Bible Society press release.

 

Evangelicalism in one lifetime: A conversation with Os Guinness

In a fascinating interview, Albert Mohler speaks with Os Guinness.

Photo via The Gospel Coalition, where Trevin Wax also spoke with Os.

The Robinson-Knox view of Church — Interview with Chase Kuhn

“If you’ve grown up in Sydney Anglican churches chances are your understanding of what church is and what it’s for has been significantly shaped (perhaps unknowingly!) by two people – Donald W. B. Robinson and D. Broughton Knox.

However, no one has undertaken a systematic and extended articulation and appraisal of this approach to church …. until now – we chat to Moore College lecturer Chase Kuhn about his new book The Ecclesiology of Donald Robinson and D. Broughton Knox.”

– Read it all at The Australian Church Record.

Anglican Voices episode 1

Kevin Kallsen at Anglican TV has begun a new project – Anglican Voices.

His first interview is with Church Society’s Director, Dr. Lee Gatiss.

Broughton Knox: servant of Christ Jesus

“More than a hundred years ago, Broughton Knox, Principal of Moore College from 1959 until 1985 and one of the most influential figures in the history of the Diocese, was born.

He was a man loved by many and yet he deeply irritated others. For forty years he was a dominant force in the Diocese of Sydney, shaping generations of clergy and impacting the core convictions of the diocese.

He shaped its theological college, Moore College, into a modern institution capable of making a significant contribution on the world stage. Then, after retiring from a record principalship of the College in 1985, he accepted an invitation to found another college in South Africa, George Whitefield College, which today is playing a strategic role in equipping the burgeoning churches on that vast continent.

What was it that animated Broughton Knox throughout his ministry and his life as a disciple of Christ? …”

– Moore College Principal, Dr Mark Thompson, writes about his renowned predecessor – at the Moore College website.

 

Oak Hill Commentary — special tribute to Mike Ovey

Recently, Oak Hill College published a special edition of their Commentary magazine, “in thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Mike Ovey”.

It includes contributions from Don Carson, Mark Thompson, David Peterson and William Taylor.

If you haven’t seen it, you can read the issue online, or download the 4MB PDF file (direct link). Most honouring to the Lord Jesus.

Keeping the faith: Andrew Hastie on poetry, political courage, and not banning the burka

“Andrew Hastie has been typecast as a Christian politician from day one.

While he says that can be frustrating, it’s meant he’s never felt the need to hide who he is.

The member for Canning has been in the spotlight for his views on same-sex marriage and changes to racial hate laws.

But he says at the heart of his worldview is the belief that everyone is equal and has dignity.

And he says that plays into his views on all policies. …”

– The ABC’s Alexandra Beech has this piece on Andrew Hastie, the member for Canning in Western Australia. (Photo by Alexandra Beech / ABC News.)

Michael Kellahan to be Reader in Religious Freedom at Moore College

“The Principal has announced the appointment of the Rev Michael Kellahan as Moore College Reader in Religious Freedom. This new position will see the College working with Mr Kellahan to address one of the most pressing challenges of the moment in Australia and many other parts of the world. …

Michael has resigned as Senior Minister of Roseville East to take up a full-time role as Executive Director of Freedom for Faith, a legal think tank that exists to see religious freedom protected and promoted in Australia and beyond. …”

– Read the full announcement from Moore College.

Duncan Whitson

ACL members will be saddened to hear of the death of Duncan Whitson yesterday evening. Nevertheless, we rejoice that he is now with the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Duncan was a long-time member of the Council of the Anglican Church League, becoming an Emeritus Vice President in 2001.

Duncan’s contributions to Council meetings were always cheerful and encouraging. He and his wife Joyce served, often behind the scenes, in working to maintain the gospel-focussed character of the Anglican Church in Sydney.

ACL Chairman Dr Robert Tong remembers Duncan as “a faithful soldier for the Lord”, and former President Dr Bruce Ballantine-Jones says he was “a true servant of the gospel”.

Duncan’s funeral will be at 12:15 pm on Thursday, 6th April at Macquarie Park Crematorium. (Photo taken at the 2005 AGM.)

Church Society pays tribute to former Director

“Members of Church Society will be saddened to hear of the recent death of the Revd David Streater who was Director of the Society 1991 – 1998.”

– Michael Walters pays tribute at the Church Society blog.

(On this anniversary of the death of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, it might be appropriate to read this article by David Streater on another Anglican Reformer who died for the gospel, Bishop Hugh Latimer. – PDF.)

Thanksgiving service for Mike Ovey — video

St. Helen’s Bishopsgate has uploaded a video recording of the thanksgiving service for the life and ministry of Dr. Mike Ovey, held at All Souls Church, Langham Place in London, on Monday 13th March 2017.

The full video recording runs for a little over 2 hours.

And from Oak Hill:

A packed church of about 800 people joined Mike’s family, together with friends, colleagues, Oak Hill students and alumni, to pay tribute to Mike’s exceptional gifts, which he offered in the service of the people of God, and to thank God for his life as a teacher, educator, and leader.

The service included four appreciations of Mike’s life and work, and the address was given by Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney, Australia. The individual appreciations and the address are at the following points in the video:

10:35 – Efrem Buckle, Pastor of ecclesia, Lewisham
17:32 – Andrea Williams, Chief Executive, Christian Concern
31:16 – Nick Tucker, Vicar of St Bartholomew, Edgbaston
39:33 – Dan Strange, Acting Principal of Oak Hill College
57:42 – Peter Jensen, former Archbishop of Sydney.

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