Church Parades 1916
ABOVE: A typical “unwieldy” Church Parade conducted at Brisbane’s Enoggera training base involved hundreds of participants at up to five sessions each Sunday, as shown in this amazing image which appeared on page 26 of The Queenslander Pictorial (supplement to The Queenslander) of 26 February 1916. The military chaplain in this instance (wearing a flowing white surplice at middle left) has the aid of a volunteer sitting at a portable harmonium under the handy shade of nearby gum tree to help elevate the singing from the Hymnal. If this was a Church of England Evensong service, the soldiers are following proceedings in the Prayer Books provided.
‘Mere preachment and talk
does not satisfy them’ – Garland
TO: The Rev. Chaplain Captain C. Warren Tomkins
Australian Imperial Forces, EGYPT
Box 47, Brisbane,
18th Jany. 1916
My dear Captain Tomkins [ Charles Warren Tomkins* ], it was most good of you to write to me your letter of the 23rd November, which reached me last week.
It is interesting to hear about your work, which is unique, but you are just the right man for it.
I am sorry to hear about the box, I packed it for you. I found it on the wharf and sent it off by another boat, but I doubt whether it will ever reach you.
I value your remarks about our work here, but feel it can only be completed when it is followed up by such men as yourself.
We now have 10,000 men in camp and the number is likely to increase.
We have five celebrations every Sunday morning, they are our normal Church Parade.
Except one camp where there is a lack of discipline the attendances are good, and often unwieldy.
In addition to parades we have extra services on Sunday every day on a week night in as many camps as possible.
There is a varying attendance at these affected by drill and other circumstances, but as a rule attendances are good and always encouraging.
Last week at one camp I had Evensong, there must have been hundreds of men present some of whom had never handled a Prayer Book before.
When service was over and I was taking off my vestments they sang ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’!!
I aim at teaching the men to use their Prayer Books because they that will be of more use to them later on.
“They value their own Church services and dislike the combined services.
Of course we get larger attendance than anyone else; this might be expected as we are numerically superior, but no man is forced to go to one Church Parade more than another.
“It seems the men much prefer their own services, and in some cases rather more than I like, men of other denominations prefer to come to us.
There is a hunger for the Sacraments, mere preachment and talk does not satisfy them.
I saw Mrs. Tomkins in the street with the children, they were keeping well and bright, but I have been most unfortunate I never have got their address.
I wanted to get some of our people to call upon Mrs. Tomkins.
With every wish for every blessing on your work, and for a safe return.
Yours affectionately,
DG [ David John Garland ]
* Charles Warren Tomkins was a Church of England military chaplain (4th Class). The former Oakey Parish incumbent was aged 40 when he enlisted at Oakey, Queensland, in the First AIF on 20 September 1915. He sailed for Egypt aboard the His Majesty’s Auxiliary Transport A48 Seang Bee on 21 October 1915. From SLQ-OM71-51-8; Accession OM71; Canon David John Garland Papers, Item OM71. From the State Library of Queensland Collection.
