North Balwyn, VIC - St Aiden's Uniting
Year Built: 1964
Denomination: Uniting
Saint: Aiden
Address: 17 Duggan Street, North Balwyn, Victoria,
Previous Denomination: Presbyterian
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri people
Last Updated: 15/02/2022
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History and Architecture:
The Methodist Church, desirous of providing a place of worship in the (new) area, had bought land in Winmallee Road, which was later sold in favour of a block on Doncaster Road purchased for 480 plus solicitors' fees and other expenses amounting to 8.10.3!
On 23rd February 1940 five men met at the Canterbury Parsonage under the chairmanship of the Rev. E.H.O. Nye: Messrs. H.P. Bennett, C. Colder, Albert Charlesworth and Dr. Bartram. These gentlemen, together with Mr. Robin, were elected Foundation Trustees of the North Balwyn Methodist Church, which was to become the youngest member church of the Canterbury Circuit.*
On the 31st March 1963 the site of St Aidan's Church in Duggan Street, was dedicated by the Reverend L.O.C. White. On the 27th of September 1964 the Foundation stone of St Aidan's Church laid by the Right Reverend S.E. Yarnold, Moderator of the General Assembly. On 11th December 1965 St Aidan's Church opened and dedicated by the Presbytery of Melbourne North.
St. Aidan’s and Trinity joined to become North Balwyn Uniting Church on 13th February, 2011.
Clergy:
This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 - 1952 | Rev Keith McDowding | P | ||
| 1952 - 1953 | Rev Hamilton W. Aikin | P | 1983 | |
| 1953 - | Rev John Armour | P | ||
| 1953 - 1955 | Rev Hamilton W. Aikin | P | 1983 | |
| 1953 - 1955 | Rev F. W. Cunningham | P | ||
| 1955 - 1966 | Rev L O.C. White | P | ||
| 1967 - 1969 | Rev Gordon F.G. Kerry | P | 1916 | 1969 |
| 1969 - 1970 | Rev Colin de la Rue | Asst | ||
| 1970 - | Rev Robert Ridley | Asst | ||
| 1969 - 1974 | Rev Maxwell J.L. Giffiths | P | ||
| 1974 - 1977 | Rev Sydney S. Smale | P | 1926 | 2005 |
| 1977 - 1986 | Rev Neil E. Key | U | ||
| 1988 - 1998 | Rev Ravanel N. Weinman | U | 1933 | 2018 |
| 2000 - 2009 | Rev Dr Lorraine J. Parkinson | U | ||
| 2010 - 2019 | Rev Anneke Oppewal | U | ||
| 2020 - | Rev Dr Avril Hannah-Jones |
Organ:
The organ was built in 1897 by colonial organ-builder E H Jenkins for the Moray Place Congregational Church, Dunedin, New Zealand. It was restored and rebuilt by the South Island Organ Company of New Zealand and installed in St Aidan’s Uniting Church in 1996.
Source:
1. From Open Fields, A History of Trinity Uniting Church 1941 - 1991. Winsome Matenson. SLT 287.93 F92M
2. A Church is Built St Aidens' North Balwyn, the story of the first twenty years. LD 285.294511 N81C
3. Church website.