Warrnambool, VIC - Christ Church Anglican
Year Built: 1854
Denomination: Anglican
Address: Henna Street, Warrnambool, Victoria, 3280
Architect: Nathaniel Billing
Traditional Owners: Eastern Maar people
Last Updated: 19/04/2023
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History and Architecture:
In July 1854 a group of parishioners, worshipping in a small brick building, made the decision to establish Christ Church - a church to seat 400. This original brick building was to become the rectory.
The first clergyman, Peter Teulon Beamish, a deacon. was appointed to Warrnambool in 1850 and was ordained as a priest in 1854. He found a small brick church which accommodated about thirty five persons. The outer shell of a parsonage house was erected in 1853 and used temporarily as a place of worship. This is now part of the Rectory.
The present south nave was opened on 21st December 1856. The porch was built in 1859 and the north nave was opened on the 8th July 1861. The whole building was consecrated by Bishop Charles Perry on 19th December 1862.
The foundation stone of the present Christ Church was laid by Dr. Beamish on 26th. November, 1855 and this church of sandstone was opened at the end of 1856. The Church was built to the design of English-trained architect Nathaniel Billing, who had been a pupil of Gilbert Scott. Between 1861 and 1877 the north nave and porch were added with the tower and bells dedicated in 1882. So rapid was the growth of the township that it was soon necessary to add the northern section. This was done about 1860, by which time the population of the township had passed the 2,000 mark, and the completed church was dedicated by Bishop Perry in 1862.
The Warriors' Chapel of St. George was added in 1954.
A large cross, Celtic in design, stands near the church as a memorial to the fallen of World War 1.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 - 1895 | Archdeacon Peter Teulon Beamish | 1914 | ||
| 1870 - 1871 | Rev A Pollard | Locum | ||
| 1880 - 1882 | Rev W Swinburn | Curate | ||
| 1883 - | Rev H L George | Curate | ||
| 1890 - 1891 | Rev W Harry Edwards | Curate | ||
| 1890 - 1891 | Rev C. M. Lowe | Curate | ||
| 1893 - 1895 | Rev W. A. Wells | Curate | ||
| 1894 - 1895 | Rev C L.H. Rupp | Locum | 1839 | 1917 |
| 1895 - 1899 | Rev John W. Griffiths | 1940 | ||
| 1895 - 1900 | Rev Henry Edward Cooper | Curate | 1845 | 1916 |
| 1896 - 1897 | Rev H. F. Barker | Curate | ||
| 1899 - 1905 | Rev Samuel McGeorge | |||
| 1902 - 1905 | Rev Henry Elleker Lewin | Curate | 1868 | 1946 |
| 1905 - 1912 | Rev A. E Peacock | |||
| 1905 - 1906 | Rev C. E Burgess | Locum | ||
| 1906 - 1907 | Rev George Poynder | 1868 | 1931 | |
| 1906 - 1906 | Rev Edward George Higgin | 1861 | 1934 | |
| 1909 - 1910 | Rev R A. Giles | Curate | ||
| 1910 - 1916 | Dean Charles James Thomas Martin | 1868 | 1949 | |
| 1912 - 1913 | Rev R Hamilton | |||
| 1912 - 1917 | Rev Thomas Pearse Bennett | |||
| 1912 - 1915 | Rev Herbert Henry Pritchard | 1887 | 1927 | |
| 1913 - 1916 | Rev A. S. McPherson | Curate | 1887 | 1958 |
| 1915 - | Rev H A. Hawkins | Curate | ||
| 1917 - | Rev Victor William Nelson Lines | Curate | 1888 | 1975 |
| 1917 - 1918 | Rev Albert George Horner | 1887 | 1962 | |
| 1918 - | Rev F. P Williams | Locum | ||
| 1918 - | Rev W. E Wood | Locum | ||
| 1918 - | Rev C. A. Baker | Curate | ||
| 1918 - 1923 | Rev John Redmond | |||
| 1918 - 1925 | Rev William Osman Jessop | |||
| 1919 - | Mr J Lesley Worland | Lay Reader | ||
| 1919 - | Rev R Fabian | Locum | ||
| 1919 - 1921 | Lay Reader J. C Neil | |||
| 1920 - | Rev W Boake | Curate | ||
| 1923 - | Rev R. F. Adams | Curate | ||
| 1923 - | Rev J. S. Farrrer | Curate | ||
| 1923 - 1932 | Rev Walter Guthrie Bower | |||
| 1929 - 1930 | Rev John Richards Gerrans Martin | Asst C | 1903 | 1977 |
| 1930 - | Rev J R.G. Martin | Curate | ||
| 1930 - | Rev H. P. Lousada | Curate | ||
| 1930 - | Rev A. L. Rivett | Curate | ||
| 1932 - 1934 | Rev William Eric McInver | Curate | 1899 | 1973 |
| 1932 - 1940 | Rev Ernest Stanley Yeo | |||
| 1935 - 1936 | Rev L. S. Langdon | Curate | 1903 | 1975 |
| 1940 - 1946 | Rev William Clinch | |||
| 1946 - | Rev Ronald Edwin Richards | |||
| 1947 - 1949 | Rev Keith George Madin | Curate | 1915 | 1959 |
| 1950 - | Rev Gordon George Garner | Asst C | 1926 | |
| 1950 - 1960 | Rev Normans Smith Fettell | 1883 | 1967 | |
| 1955 - | Rev A. T Hope | Locum | ||
| 1956 - 1967 | Rev Anthony James Taylor | 1932 | ||
| 1957 - 1960 | Rec John Colin Haugh | Asst C | ||
| 1958 - | Rev F Phipps | Locum | ||
| 1959 - 1968 | Rev G A. Brown | |||
| 1961 - 1963 | Rev Brian Arthur Harding | 1930 | ||
| 1965 - 1969 | Rev Frederick George Phipps | Asst C | 2013 | |
| 1967 - | Rev Thomas George Green | Asst C | ||
| 1969 - 1970 | Rev Arthur Mellsih Saveage | Asst C | ||
| 1974 - 1982 | Rev John Raymond Warner | 1935 | ||
| 1975 - | Rev G W. Hillman | Asst C | 1946 | |
| 1977 - | Rev Michael Vine | Locum | ||
| 1982 - 1983 | Rev Colin Haugh | Locum | ||
| 1983 - 1984 | Rev Stephen Hill | |||
| 1984 - 1985 | Rev Alan George Colley | Asst | 1941 | |
| 1986 - 1987 | Rev N. B. Mitchell | |||
| 1987 - 1988 | Rev Roy John Stanley | Asst C | ||
| 1991 - 2000 | Rev Denys Tonks | |||
| 1991 - 1992 | Rev David B. Petterson | Asst C | ||
| 1992 - 1993 | Rev Richard Stanley Treloar | Asst C | 1965 | |
| 1994 - | Rev Terence Francis Gross | Asst C | 1945 | |
| 1998 - | Rev Denis Angelo Anthony Sotiriadid | Asst C | ||
| 2000 - 2002 | Rev Denis Arnold Vanderwolf | |||
| 2004 - 2006 | Rev Peter Lord | |||
| 2007 - | Rev Scott Lowrey |
Organ:
The first Organ was built in 1868 by George Fincham. Moved in 1874 to a new position in the church, then to organ chamber 1889. Sold 1890 to Major Helpman at the Orderly Rooms, Warrnambool then sold in 1891 to Warrnambool Congregational Church. Present Organ built in 1890 by Fincham & Hobday. Refurbished in 1976 by George Fincham & Sons. It has 2m, 17spst, 3c, tr. Gt: 8.8.8.4.4.2.III. Sw: 16.8.8.8.4.2.III.8. Ped: 16.16.
For a full description and photos click here.
Source:
1. Christ Church, The English Church Warrnambool 1847 - 1987 W.J. Pinson SLT 283.94571 W 25 P
2 The Australian Anglican Directory 2000.
3. Christ Church Warrnambool LTP 283.94571 W25 WA
4. Organ Historical Trust of Australia with permission.