A plea for a Sisterhood

The SSA began in Brisbane, Australia, in 1892. The Rev’d Montagu Stone-Wigg, then Vicar of the proto-Cathedral of St John, wrote to religious orders in England seeking Anglican Sisters who were willing to come to Brisbane to found an order here, with a particular concern for education and nursing.

Sister Caroline Amy Balguy, from the Clewer Community, along with Deaconess Minnie, responded to the call and arrived in Brisbane in December 1892. There was plenty of work for them to do, and within a short time they had established the Home of the Good Shepherd in Nundah, to care for homeless girls, and the Working and Factory Girls’ Club in Charlotte Street.

Educating girls

The Society’s educational ministry began with a day school attached to St John’s Cathedral in 1894. In 1895, the first class of girls was prepared for examinations through the University of Sydney and this marked the beginning of Eton High School, later to become St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School in Ascot. More schools followed including St Michael’s at Clayfield, and St Catherine’s in Stanthorpe and later Warwick.

In 1917 the SSA ventured north to Townsville at the request of Bishop Oliver Feetham, and there they established St Anne’s School in Townsville, followed by St Mary’s in Herberton, St Gabriel’s in Charter’s Towers, and their first boys school, All Souls’, also in Charter’s Towers. The Sisters also worked in Rockhampton Diocese, establishing St Faith’s School in Yeppoon.

The latest school to be founded by the Sisters was St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School in Corinda. Today only St Margaret’s and St Aidan’s remain as SSA Schools, although many of the other schools were handed over to others, and continue to educated students today.

Other ministries

In addition to their educational endeavours, the SSA established a number of other ministries in Queensland. These included the Tufnell Orphange at Nundah and All Saint’s Hostel for girls in Charleville. The Sisters also assumed the operation of St Martin’s War Memorial Hospital from 1922 - 1971.

The SSA produced altar breads from their Community House in Ascot from 1948-1990.