Series 093/22 - Press clippings - topics of interest to Mary Andrews

Identity area

Reference code

AU AU-MTC 093/22

Title

Press clippings - topics of interest to Mary Andrews

Date(s)

  • 1950-1996 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

Loose papers

Context area

Name of creator

(1915-1996)

Biographical history

Mary Maria Andrews was born at Dry Plain Station (near Cooma, NSW) in 1915 to Albert and Ann Andrews. The family moved to Mittagong in 1925 then Sydney in 1927 for educational purposes following the separation of her parents. Mary was educated at Homebush Intermediate High School and later Hornsby Girls' High. She underwent training as a General Nurse at Gladesville Mental Hospital from 1933-1935, . studied at Sydney Missionary and Bible College from 1935-6 and was a resident at Deaconess house from 1937-8 at the recommendation of the Church Missionary Society of Australia (CMS), to which she had applied as a missionary to China in 1937.
Sailing to China in September 1938, she engaged in language learning at the College of Chinese Studies in Peiping (which was under Japanese occupation at the time) and later in Lin Hai, where she performed missionary work until she was forced to leave in late 1943 in fear of Japanese troops. She worked in Lahore, India, during 1944, and returned to Australia on furlough in 1946, during which time she was 'set apart' as a Deaconess. She returned to China in June 1947, working as a missionary in Shaohsing until she was forced to leave due to pressure from the Communist government in 1951.
Following her missionary career she continued to be heavily involved in CMS Candidates and General Committees and was a committed supporter of the South American Missionary Society (SAMS) and served on their Candidates and Pastoral Committee.
She began work as the Principal of Deaconess House in 1951, and was commissioned as Head Deaconess in the Diocese of Sydney in early 1952. As Principal, she oversaw a dramatic expansion of the institution in both physical size and occupancy. She held the position until her reluctant retirement in 1975. Many of the women who trained at Deaconess House continued to correspond with her, confide in her and shares the joys and trials of ministry with her until her life's end.
She then took on the role of part-time chaplain to three retirement villages - Goodwin Village, Woollahra (where she also resided); Elizabeth Lodge, Kings Cross, and St John's Village, Glebe. Not only did she conduct Bible studies and hold devotional meetings with the residents but she also encouraged them to give generously to missions, other Christian work and organisations for the aged. Additionally, she increased her involvement in a number of ecumenical and women's associations and was a fixture at these for the remainder of her life. Material found in her papers suggests that she supported the Healing Ministry at St Andrews Cathedral, Basilea Schlink of Darmstadt and that she attended the Billy Graham Crusade in 1979.
In 1980 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her Services to Religion.
Mary Andrews throughout her career and ministry was a strong proponent of greater inclusion of women into church life. She was actively involved in the events leading up to a number of milestones, including an increased prominence of the Deaconess order, the inclusion of women in the Anglican synod, and the ordination of women as Anglican Deacons. Late in her life she was fiercely in favour of the ordination of women as priests, and was a member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW).
She had a healthy interest in a wide range of Christian beliefs and recorded broadcast interviews of Chrisians from Roman Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, and various other Christian denominations from Australia and abroad.
Recreationally she enjoyed traditional hymns, English Cathedral music and when time permitted attended performing arts particularly 'classical' music. In fact she entered into correspondence occasionally regarding the programs of concerts and the choice of operas if she thought they were unsuitable. She also had a life-long interest in photography and left behind an exhaustive documentation of the work of Deaconess House, the organisations that she was involved with, her many overseas trips, significant occasions in the ministry of former students and friends and of women's ministry in general.
She died on the 16th of October 1996, a few weeks after the 50th anniversary of her 'setting apart' as a Deaconess.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This series consists of press clippings - from newspapers, magazines, and other publications - that pertain to topics with which Mary Andrews had a particular connection. A large number of clippings deemed to be of insufficient interest have been disposed of (see below).
Preserved items in this series relate to the work of the Deaconess Institution, and to the topic of the role of women in the church - particularly the Anglican Church of Australia.
Articles on the Deaconess Institution describe activities in Deaconess House (excluding articles which refer to Mary herself in her capacity as principal or in citation, which are included in Series 21), ancilliary activities of the Institution such as the hospitals, the ordination of deaconesses, and the activities of Deaconess House graduates and other deaconesses in Australia and worldwide.
Additionally, Mary Andrews kept a small collection of articles relating to former Deaconess House trainee Miss (later Dr) Barbara Ferguson, who went on to do missionary work in Vietnam.
The articles on the role of women in the church cover historical milestones including the reestablishment of the Order of Deaconesses, the admission of women to the Anglican Synod, the ordination of women as Deacons, and the ordination of women as Priests in various parts of Australia and worldwide, along with reports on the controversial nature and debates surrounding the events.
Articles on the role played by women in church organisations belonging to other denominations are also included. Note: articles relating directly to the Movement for the Ordination of Women have been included in Series 8.
The majority of papers in this series were collected by Mary Andrews herself, but a small number show signs of having being forwarded to her by friends. In most cases the articles have been cut out with scissors, and an attempt has been made to preserve the header to show which publication they originated in. In some instances - but not all - this has also resulted in the preservation of evidence of the original date of publication. Some articles were previously attached to a paper backing with mounting putty [Blu-tack]. This has been removed in most cases - where removal was possible without damaging the article - and the dried putty remnants disposed of along with the backing-paper.
A large number of clippings preserved by Mary Andrews have been disposed of on the grounds that their content was well-documented elsewhere and/or not within the scope of this collection. Topics included: China - particularly reports regarding the Three Self Patriotic Movement (the authorised Christian church in China), but also a large number of articles reporting on the aftermath of the Tianenmen Square protests of 1989. The Anglican Church, particularly the activities of clergy within the Diocese of Sydney, including obituaries (note that all articles regarding the role of women within the Anglican Church have been preserved). Activities - particularly ecumenical ones - of other Christian denominations (similarly, articles relating to women's ministry in other Christian denominations have also been preserved). Aged care and healthy living. General women's interest. Annual Honours listings and reports on other Members of the Order of Australia.
*The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, royal visits to Australia, and the activities of Governors-General of Australia, state Governors, and their wives.
Articles pertaining to organisations with which Deaconess Andrews was affiliated have been inserted in the relevant Series pertaining to that organisation.
Additionally, duplicates in this series have been disposed of. Priority has been given to copies in better states of preservation or which retain additional contextual information.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Topical, chronological order has been preserved within each topic where feasible.

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Open access

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Physical storage

  • Shelf: C 10