A chapel at Carinity Wishart Gardens has reopened after a makeover shaped by a collaboration between the Wishart seniors’ community and Gateway Men’s Shed in Mackenzie.
The chapel serves residents of the Carinity Wishart Gardens aged care home and the adjacent retirement village. It has been refreshed as a quiet place where residents and families can sit, pray and reflect.
At the centre of the renewed space is a cross made from reclaimed pine. The piece was created over two months, with most of the work completed by Ethan Sanders, the youngest member of Gateway Men’s Shed, which is aligned with Gateway Baptist Church at Mackenzie.
Carinity approached the men’s shed while the chapel was being refreshed and reopened, asking whether members could design, make and install a cross for the room.
Emergency Dentist Brisbane — Same-Day Appointments, 7 Days a Week.
Open late Saturdays, Sundays and most public holidays
Pure Dentistry – Upper Mount Gravatt – (07) 3343 4869
11/1932-1974 Logan Rd, Upper Mount Gravatt
The final design was developed after several options were considered, with input from other members of the men’s shed. The completed cross uses three pieces of reclaimed pine, giving older material a new place inside the chapel.
Photo Credit: Carinity
Lighting Added to Complement the Chapel
The cross was first built to sit flat against the wall, before lighting was added to give it a softer presence in the room.
It can be illuminated in 12 different colour tones, allowing the lighting to be adjusted for different events held in the chapel. The feature was also designed to sit alongside the chapel’s stained-glass windows and existing room lighting.
The refreshed chapel also includes scripture readings on the walls and a television screen used to display bible verses and calming imagery.
Photo Credit: Carinity
Mackenzie Collaboration Reaches Beyond One Chapel
Carinity CEO Kevin Griffiths said the chapel provides residents and their families with a place for rest, prayer and reflection.
He said the space was also intended for people who may not identify as believers, including those moving through difficult stages of life or grieving the death of a loved one.
The collaboration between Carinity Wishart Gardens and Gateway Men’s Shed has also led to relationships being established between other Carinity aged care homes and local church-based men’s sheds.
Published 29-June-2026
