There was a huge turnout last weekend from local parishioners through to former residents, local politicians and others who joined in the 120th celebrations at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Armadale.
St Matthew’s Anglican Church was only the second church in Armadale constructed 120 years ago with people from all over Perth flocking to witness the event.
Father Jeff Astfalck said he was thrilled with the historic turnout at the weekend.
“We had local dignitaries, parishioners and visitors from other churches and a lot of people who had a connection to the building in the past after reading the previous article in The Examiner,” Father Astfalck said.
“We had people who had been baptised and confirmed and others who had a strong connection to the church going back into the past also.
“The Saturday was the Carradine choir, Indigenous dancers, the art show. The archbishop came on the Sunday and there was a raffle and afternoon, BBQ and tea.
“We were really well supported by local members of parliament and representatives from the council.
“The Saturday wasn’t an overly churchy thing, it was a celebration of the history of the past 120 years, but the Sunday was a churchy thing obviously, with the Archbishop of Perth Kay Goldsworthy visiting us.”
Father Jeff said he was overwhelmed, not just by the support over the weekend, but by the ongoing support the church has received, particularly in its recent missions to help struggling families in the local area.
“We are only a little church but we have a huge food mission,” he said.
“We provide a running church café and we get a variety of help from schools and other organisations. We have delivered more than 1000 hampers and help vulnerable family units where we can.
“Some of the money we get is from Lotterywest, which is from the proceeds of gambling which is good to see it go to the needy,” he said.
Father Jeff Astfalck is known to have a holistic approach to his church community and prides himself and the church in welcoming all comers.
“It has allowed us to be a natural coming together of groups of people without pushing a particular agenda,” he said proudly.
“For example, I had never done the Welcome to Country because I didn’t want to be seen doing a Welcome to Country as a white fella.
“Adrian, whose mum is a Koori woman, was confirmed with us and he asked us to do an acknowledgement of country. I hadn’t done any of that up until the time but it is meaningful to us now.”
When it comes to equality in his parish, Father Jeff doesn’t mince words.
“We have single pensioners out there as well as families doing it tough at the moment and there is no ‘us or them’, as a lot of people are on the same level.
“It’s been a great celebration, especially seeing so many people to come from different backgrounds and experiences.”
Photographs – Richard Polden
