Whittlesea, VIC - Church of Christ Anglican
Year Built: 1865
Denomination: Anglican
Address: Corner Plenty & Wallan Road, Whittlesea, Victoria, 3757
Architect: Alfred Smith
Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri people
Last Updated: 08/06/2023
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History and Architecture:
Anglican services began in the Upper Plenty in the summer of 1848. Traditionally they were held under a spreading gum tree on the Plenty river just south of the Toorourrong Parish Reserve later to become the township of Whittlesea.
A grant of land by Thomas Willis allowed the church to be erected. A committee was formed and with collections and promises of £230 the committee was instructed to write to a Mr Alfred Smith to draw up plans for a church with bluestone foundations and brick walls.
Tenders for construction were called on 10 June 1864 and plans were afoot to lay the foundation stone on 14 July. The building was ready by August 1865.
On entering the Church, the stained glass window set in the East Wall immediately captures attention. In glowing colours, Christ is depicted surrounded by a selection of people associated with His Ministry. The window "To the Glory of God and as and in memory of those from this parish who fell in the Second World War 1939 - 1945 was dedicated by Archbishop Booth on 7 May 1950.
The initial subscription was made by members of the 2/3 company Australian Army Corps, in memory of their commander Corporal (Don) L. Winward who was born at Separation, west of Mernda. Much of the remaining cost was raised by the employees of the Myrl Shoe Company, local girls and women, who worked in portion of the Returned Service League (formerly Memorial) Hall. The designer was William Kerr-Morgan of Brooks Robinson and Co. who supplied and installed the window.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1856 - 1862 | Rev William Copland | |||
| 1862 - 1863 | Rev Josiah Hollis | 1826 | 1887 | |
| 1866 - | Rev William Eric McJennett | 1899 | 1973 | |
| 1867 - 1875 | Rev H. C.E. Morris | |||
| 1875 - 1887 | Rev T. R. Neville | |||
| 1887 - 1889 | Rev B. N. White | |||
| 1889 - 1892 | Rev I J. Sparling | |||
| 1892 - 1895 | Rev J. A. Priestly | |||
| 1895 - | Rev William St John Chase | 1912 | ||
| 1896 - 1898 | Rev H. Miller | |||
| 1898 - 1903 | Rev E. C. Knox | |||
| 1903 - 1906 | Rev E. C. Thomson | |||
| 1906 - 1916 | Rev G. Chapman | |||
| 1916 - 1918 | Rev W. D. James | |||
| 1918 - 1924 | Rev L H.R. Crocker | |||
| 1924 - 1926 | Rev L. B. Meredith | |||
| 1926 - 1931 | Rev Alexander James Pearce | 1862 | 1938 | |
| 1931 - 1932 | Rev Robert Jameson Rowell | 1877 | 1951 | |
| 1932 - 1933 | Rev A. E. Freeman | |||
| 1933 - 1935 | Rev H. E.E. Hayes | |||
| 1935 - 1938 | Rev Arthur Donald Page | 1902 | 1955 | |
| 1938 - 1942 | Rev William George Vizard | 1880 | 1983 | |
| 1942 - 1945 | Rober W.D. Reader | |||
| 1945 - | Rev Frank Herbert King | 1875 | 1949 | |
| 1946 - 1948 | Rev Wilfrid Holt | 1914 | 2000 | |
| 1947 - 1950 | Rev N. R. Glover | |||
| 1950 - 1951 | Rev Francis Henry Morton | 1907 | 1994 | |
| 1951 - 1955 | Rev D. T. Pritchard | |||
| 1955 - 1957 | Rev Thomas Albert Gair | 1888 | 1972 | |
| 1957 - 1960 | Rev P. J. Adkins | |||
| 1961 - 1967 | Rev C.V. MacKay | |||
| 1967 - 1964 | Rev F. D. James | |||
| 1975 - 1980 | Rev Harold Charles Ainsworth | 1938 | ||
| 1980 - 1982 | Rev D. J. Walker | |||
| 1982 - | Rev Kenneth John Briety | 1933 | 2019 | |
| 1982 - 1985 | Rev Ronald James Cozens | 1931 | ||
| 1991 - 1993 | Rev K. A. Monk | Asst | ||
| 2016 - | Rev Dr Ruwan Palapathala |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. The English Church at Whittlesea. LTP 283.9452 P29E
2. The Australian Anglican Directory 2000