Some Milestones

1850 The first services and a Sunday School were held in the home of Mr and Mrs Foot. A choir was formed.

1854 Bishop Perry authorized the formation of a Parish and licensed the Reverend C.P.M. Bardin, who had been ordained in Ireland, to take charge from 1 January 1955. The Athanaeum, a hall in Sydney Road, was rented and services were held there until the church was built in 1857.

1857 A central site on the corner of Sydney and Glenlyon Roads was purchased on behalf of the parish by Messrs Dunn and de Carle. The diocesan architects submitted plans for the first stage of the church which was to be built for a cost of £930. The foundation stone was laid in April and Bishop Perry officiated at the opening service on 13 September. The building comprised an entrance porch and the present nave to the fourth window; it was lit by oil lamps and there was seating for about 95 people.

1858 A gallery to accommodate the choir was erected at the west end of the church.

1864 The transepts, chancel and vestry were built and the Bishop re-opened the church on Advent Sunday.

1870-1 The campanile was added with a new entrance at its base. The original entrance porch was walled up and the font installed. The present bell arrived from England, a gift of Mr W Grice.

1875 The exterior of the campanile and other additions were stuccoed; the interior was plastered and the choir gallery removed. The sanctuary and apse were added and the apostle stained glass windows were given in memory of Mr R Grice.

1887 The eagle lectern was presented to the church as was a new font of gothic design. The original font was given to St Peter's, Mornington.

1889 Two windows were placed in the wall of the chancel. An organ (pic1, pic2) built by Alfred Fuller was installed on the right-hand wall of the chancel. The vicarage was built and the vestry accommodation increased.

1895 The church was consecrated by Bishop Field Flowers Goe on 7 August, the Feast of the Name of Jesus.

1917 The altar rails were presented. The parish of St Cuthbert's was created in East Brunswick.

1929 The Lady Chapel was dedicated on 6 February. Permission was given for the reservation of the Holy Sacrament in the aumbry.

1934 The priest's vestry was dedicated by the Archbishop of Melbourne on the 77th Festival of Dedication. The organ (pic1, pic2), then in the transept, was rebuilt.

1938 Daily mass first introduced.

1952 First Midnight Mass for Christmas.

1957 Celebrations to mark the centenary of the erection of the church building. 'Centenary Hall' built.

1966 Present set of the stations of the cross (artist: Sister Lisa, Community of the Holy Name) installed.

1967 Rood dedicated (Crucifix, with figures of Mary and John, set on the beam at the entrance to the chancel): a memorial to Walter Green.

1972 The organ was removed and the new Pogson organ installed.

1975 The three Nicholas Draffin panels were affixed to the pulpit and dedicated.

1976 Memorial Garden dedicated.

1978 Major restoration of the church (completed 1980).

1982 Fountain installed in the church grounds.

1984 Piazza completed.

1987 The Bardin Centre was opened - rebuilding of the street frontage of parish hall (Architect: Nonda Katsalidis).

1988 Community Housing financed by the Ministry of Housing and designed by Nonda Katsalidis huilt on parish land in Merri Street.

1995 Centenary of consecration of the church.

1997 Renovation of Bardin Centre completed.

1999 Christ Church launched its first website.

2005 Celebrations to mark sesquicentenary of the formation of the parish.

2009 Christ Church registered its domain name christchurchbrunswick.org and new website.

Take a Guided Tour of Christ Church

Highs and Lows

 

You can purchase the history book of Christ Church from the office for $15