St Laurence Parish Hall

The renovation of the Parish Hall has been a work in progress for some years.  At last, thanks to some grants and the work of many faithful volunteers, it is restored to some of its former glory.  Painting has been completed and the floor sanded, sealed and polished.  At the back is the Parish Office and the hall is equipped with a kitchen able to cater for small functions. 

Parish Council has decided to make the hall a formal venue in keeping with its historical significance not only in the church but also for the Barraba community, so it is proposed that the hall feature historical photos and memorabilia that reflect God’s faithfulness and how the hall has been used for well over a century.

Built originally at the corner of Queen and Alice streets about 1875, the Church was later dismantled and rebuilt in Maude St.  During the rebuilding services were held in the nearby Mechanics Institute, then when the new St Laurence’s was completed in March 1909, it became the Parish Hall.

I remember it as the venue for a youth fellowship of about 180 over fifteens.  (It was pre-television when night life in Barraba was movies on Tuesday and Friday or Saturday nights and night light tennis on scattered courts once a week.  Balls, about four a year, were held in the Empire Theatre on Thursdays.) 

Over the years I have also seen the hall as Barraba’s first preschool, as the first day care centre and as an extra dressing room for the dramatic society – a cast of seventy could not fit under the Youth Centre stage.

Of course it was also used by Sunday School, CEBS and CEGS, Mothers Union, even ballet classes.  If you have old photos or memorabilia that you would like to lend or donate to the hall they would be proudly displayed.  Please speak to the Vicar.

As I have been writing this I have been remembering Psalm 127, “Unless the Lord builds the city the builders labour in vain….”  Look it up.  It is a short psalm but worth thinking about.