Old Union Chapel (The) at Angaston: Ron travels to the Barossa Valley region of South Australia to see the chapel

The Barossa Valley is well known for its German heritage but at the eastern end of the Valley sits a pretty little town that's a quaint reminder of its English past. It was the dream of patriarch George Fife Angas, a man who was pivotal to the establishment of the colony of South Australia. But Angaston, which bears his name and the colony would be models for a different society - one which would break free of the confines of the Anglican Church in the Mother country.

"People had to pay a tenth of their income to the Church of England regardless of whether they went there or not," explained our guide, Kingsley Ireland. "Until 1837 everybody had to be married in a Church of England unless you were a Quaker or a Jew. There was a lot of conformity."

Angas and many others behind the establishment of the town were religious non-conformists - a notion expressed perfectly in the very simple construction of what was originally known as the German Pass Union Chapel. George Fife Angas donated the land and money and commissioned his son John Howard Angas to oversee the job in 1844.

"The chapel was open to all religions as required under the Trust Deed," explained Kingsley. "That's a very important point because George Fife Angas had seen the impact of religious discrimination back home in England. And he was determined to ensure that this became a focal point for the notion of religious freedom."

No artifice here - just a basic yet beautiful stone construction, which more by accident than design, is well known for it's exceptional acoustics. It was a feature demonstrated by cello player, Sophie Radke from Faith Lutheran School at Tanunda who uses the church for her rehearsals.

Over the years, the chapel has been the ideal venue for concerts and recitals but in its early years it was the gathering point for a very diverse parish - some Congregationalist, some Wesleyan Methodists and some Baptists.

Kingsley showed us an unusual font under the floor, which was used for full immersion baptisms. It was found outside and was reinstalled as part of the church restoration, which nearly didn't happen. In the 1980s some wanted the church demolished because of its sad state of disrepair. It had been used as a shed for packed fruit and later as a shearing shed.

Now it's back to what it was designed for - that is catering to a wide and varied flock just as George Fife Angas would have wanted.

"Potentially it could be used by a Buddhist or a Hindu or a Muslim because it is a community building that can be hired for a worthy use," said Kingsley. "And that would fit in with George Fife Angas' original idea."

The Old Union Chapel is on Penrice Road at Angaston in the Barossa. For bookings contact 8563 8444. Please email info@postcards-sa.com.au if you have any further questions.

The Old Union Chapel
Penrice Road
Angaston
Barossa Valley
Booking Ph 8563 8444

Published 9th July 2006