St Francis’ Chapel & Theological College (‘Old Bishopsbourne’)

St Francis’ Chapel & Theological College, located at the historic ‘Old Bishopsbourne’ site, holds active intellectual significance as the primary headquarters for the Anglo-Catholic tradition in Brisbane. Relocated to its Milton site in 1936 under Archbishop William Wand, the institution functioned as an “Anglo-Catholic fortress” designed to consolidate Anglican theological identity against both evangelical and Roman Catholic intrusions. Its complex of buildings—including the 1865 residence, 1912 chapel, and 1959 library—embodies the principle of “thinking religion in place,” where spiritual meaning is realized “in rebus” (in the thing itself) through physical and social architecture. Within the “New MBH Program” framework, this site represents a critical node for the “craftsmanship of the reflexive insider,” resisting “historical forgetfulness” by anchoring deep theological inquiry within the practical and historical realities of the local community.