Seeing things in a new light

Darcy Vaughan

Our churches are incredible things; buildings that are also artworks and artefacts, telling stories, shaping our identities and recording our history. Perhaps even more difficult than keeping our buildings in good condition is ensuring that they continue to evolve and grow with us. Reverend Canon Shannon and the congregation of St Mark’s have managed to do this in an inspiring new way.

Shannon got to know Crystal West through the children’s playgroup at the Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative. Shannon soon came to appreciate Crystal’s gift for bringing culture and spirituality to life on canvas. Shannon approached Crystal to see if she would use her impressive artistic abilities to give a story of creation. That painting now takes pride of place in Bishop Matt’s study, where you may have seen it on an easel. The painting is also the front cover of this issue of The Spirit.

And that same artwork now filters the light into the front room of St Mark’s, Golden Square. The welcoming entry space of the church and its baptismal font are now bathed in light seen through Indigenous understanding and culture. This is most fitting given it is in this space that Shannon hosts an art group and safe place attended by Aboriginal elders. As some of them explore their experience as members of the Stolen Generation they now do so in a church building which acknowledges and reflects their history and culture.