South Yarra, VIC - Christ Church Anglican
Denomination: Anglican
Address: 677 Punt Road, South Yarra, Victoria, 3141
Architect: Charles Webb & James Taylor
Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri people
Last Updated: 22/05/2023
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History and Architecture:
Early services were held in the nearby Presbyterian Sunday School. A building committee was formed early in 1854, and formal trustees appointed at the end of March 1854. The first vicar was licensed and it appears that the church was designated ‘Christ Church’ in late December 1855 or early January 1856.
The church building was commenced in April 1856 and by April 1857 the first service was held in the new church building during the Incumbency of the Reverend William Guinness, the first Vicar.
In April 1857 the first portion of the church consisting of the nave and the base of a tower were erected at a cost of £2850, and the church was open for divine service.
In 1859 the vicarage was built at a cost of £4000 and a school house was commenced. South Yarra grew rapidly and increased church accommodation was urgently needed. This was provided by the addition of transepts and chancel at a cost of £6327. The new enlarged church was first used for public worship on December 8 1859.
A Foundation stone reads, " This stone was laid by his Excellency Sir Brian Broughton LuH F.O.B. Governor of Victoria on 29 October AD 1885 as a memorial of the creation of South Yarra".
A plaque on the church exterior wall reads, " his stone records the restoration of the spire 1990 - 1991 and its re hallowing by the Archbishop of Melbourne the Most Reverend Dr Keith Rayner A.O. on 28th July 1991. Vicar The Reverend David Warner Appeal Chairman Sir Rupert Clarke M.B.E. Deputy Chairman Aline Burke O.A.M. Architects Mockridge, Stahle and Mitchell, Project Architect George Mitchell, Contractors Henderson's Marble and Granite, Masons Ross Lee Stuart Lee Giovanni Valerio Lous Deo".
A full history can be viewed here.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1855 - 1880 | Rev William Guinness | 1810 | 1894 | |
| 1879 - 1880 | Rev Robert Bicknell Bayne | 1839 | 1880 | |
| 1880 - 1908 | Rev Horace Finn Tucker | |||
| 1883 - 1885 | Rev William Thomas Beaty Pownall | 1884 | 1918 | |
| 1886 - 1888 | Rev Henry Charles Hancock | Curate | 1843 | 1905 |
| 1896 - 1900 | Rev John Stephen Hart | Curate | 1866 | 1952 |
| 1907 - 1908 | Rev Herbert Metcalf Hawkins | Curate | 1867 | 1936 |
| 1907 - 1908 | Rev William Clarke Hudson | Curate | 1858 | 1947 |
| 1908 - 1938 | Rev Leonard Townsend | |||
| 1912 - 1914 | Rev Ernest Reed Harrison | Curate | 1883 | 1937 |
| 1914 - 1918 | Rev Maurice Richard Kelly | Curate | 1884 | 1926 |
| 1938 - 1944 | Rev Charles Herbert Murray | |||
| 1944 - 1946 | Rev John David McKie | |||
| 1946 - 1947 | Rev James Alan Housden | 1904 | 1994 | |
| 1947 - 1954 | Rev James Archibald Scholfield | |||
| 1954 - 1965 | Rev Sydney Thomas Ball | 1896 | 1975 | |
| 1965 - 1966 | Rev John Basil Rowland Grindrod | |||
| 1966 - 1969 | Rev David Hubert Warner Shand | |||
| 1970 - 1982 | Rev Evan William Wetherall | |||
| 1982 - 1992 | Rev David Brooke Warner | |||
| 1993 - 2006 | Rev Desmond Ernest Benfield | |||
| 2007 - 2018 | Rev Richard Stanley Treloar |
Organ:
The present organ was built in 1998 by Kenneth Jones & Associates of Bray, Ireland incorporating pipework from a previous organ. It has 3m, 40spst, 7c, tr & elpn. Gt: 16.8.8.8.4.4.2-2/3.2.2.1-3/5.III-IV.8. Sw: 8.8.8.8.4.4.2.III.III.16.8.8. Ch: 8.8.4.4.2-2/3.2.8. 8. Ped: 16.16.10-2/3.8.8.5-1/3.4.16.
A full description and photos can be seen here.
Source:
1. Church Website
2. Cable Clergy Index.
3. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.