Holy Cross Anglican Church
Elizabeth, Diocese of Adelaide
South Australia, Australia
Fall 1994

I know about a dozen clergy in Australia. More than half of them are named "John". The rector of Holy Cross, Elizabeth was one. He and his wife came to Virginia Beach and we to their fibro ranch with a Hill's Hoist and a dozen chooks in the back garden. Translated: we stayed in their working persons suburban pre-fab house with a revolving laundy clothesline and a 12 chickens in the back yard. We did not have to take care of the chooks so the interim task was to maintain regular worship , support the staff and travel the beautiful countryside devoted to agriculture and vineyards.

Holy Cross is a struggling congregation in the Elizabeth section of the City of Playford. Elisabeth was founded in 1955 as a planned company town for General Motors north of Adelaide. A modern building for worship and social gatherings Holy Cross hosts a large social ministry. Playford has a population of about 70,000 residents.

Once again we were royally treated by our hosts in South Australia. We also had a chance to visit Bishop Owen and Gloria in Hobart, Tasmania. We got a tour of the penal colony there which is a heart-rending experience. It is now a museum.