Parish Profile  January 2008

 

                   

 

Introduction to St Stephen’s Church

 

 

Mission Statement

 

Together in God Church and Community

 

 

The people of St Stephen’s Bayswater commit themselves to serving the people of God here and in the wider community, seeking to meet the pastoral needs of all who seek God.  We commit ourselves to grow in faith, to invite and welcome others to share in this journey

 

 

St Stephen’s Church is an inclusive, welcoming, warm, diverse and friendly faith community in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Our life at St Stephen’s is firmly based on the holy Eucharist which unites us with Jesus Christ and empowers us to love God and all his people. With this as our foundation, we offer a range of spiritual, educational and social programs, along with opportunities to serve others.

 

Parishioners come not only from Bayswater but from the surrounding districts because of our Anglo-Catholic tradition.  Our congregation is very diverse and is made up of people from different backgrounds, political beliefs and cultures such as South African, Mauritian, Anglo Saxon and Italian. We form a vibrant multicultural and loving community.  There are also some members of the congregation who have been raised in other religious traditions e.g. Baptist, Roman Catholic, Orthodox etc. or have no tradition at all.  Women are an integral part of our worship and pastoral team.

 

Music at Stephen’s church is vital and much appreciated part of our worship.  Our choir leads the congregation in the sung parts of the Mass and hymns at our 9.30am solemn Mass and at special services during Easter and Christmas seasons.

 

St. Stephen’s also forms part of an active cluster group of churches that were formed under Archbishop Peter Watson’s 20/20 Vision. These include St Bartholomew’s Ferntree Gully, St Paul’s Boronia, and St Thomas’s Upper Ferntree Gully.  Recently we had a combined Eucharist at the Knox Arboretum, a trivia and movie nights. Later this year our priests will be conducting services at each other parish centres. The aim is to support each other in faith and celebrate our diversity.

 

 

 

 

Parish Profile

 

St. Stephen’s is an inclusive, welcoming, warm, diverse and friendly faith community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worship

 

Every Sunday we currently hold two Masses

 

8am Mass 

 

Said mass in the church at which we use A Prayer Book for Australia. The first Sunday of the month this Mass is said in the St. Laurence Chapel using The 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

 

9.30am Solemn Mass

 

Sung Mass in the church with Choir and organ assisted by a service assistant and crucifer. On Saints Days and major feast we have a High Mass with two service assistants in the positions of deacon and sub deacon, acolytes, thurifer and crucifer.  Incense is used at this Mass.

 

Healing Service

 

Held on the first Sunday of the month following the 9.30am Mass

 

Sunday school

 

Held during the 9.30 Mass during school term.

 

Wednesdays

 

There are currently two masses at 10am and 6pm on this day

 

Saints days

 

One mass is usually said at 10am

 

 

Hospitality and fellowship

 

We are a connected and committed group of people who care for each other and our community. We hold many parish activities some of which raise funds, others are purely social.  These include:  concerts, games nights, a community luncheon, a multi cultural luncheon, and other one of activities.  We collect food to be distributed to the needy. Our weekly pew bulletins and posting of Parish Council minutes in the narthex keep our people informed of all church activities and coming events.

 

 

We have a web site which has been well developed and kept up to date to help reach out beyond our church community www.ststephensbayswater.org.au

 

Outreach/Mission

 

Our congregation gives to various mission programs through our giving system where people indicate how much and to whom it is given either through our envelope or direct debit system.

 

St Stephen’s Care Group was formed in 2001 with the aim of reaching out to the local community by:

·        Providing a community luncheon for needy families and elderly people living alone.

·        Assisting with emergency food parcels

·        Providing emergency casseroles to parishioners and local community in need.

·        Visiting Nursing Homes and person who are house bound.

 

Recently our parish council convened two special interest groups one for the maintenance of the Church and the other for outreach.

 

Parish Strengths

 

  • Many hard working lay people
  • Welcoming, inclusive and friendly, all are welcome
  • Parish values its children and youth
  • Sense of family
  • Geographically diverse congregation
  • Integrity of worship
  • After service refreshments
  • Regular shared and cultural meals
  • Occasional fundraising concerts and activities

 

Parish Needs

 

  • More community involvement
  • Parish wide mission with more hands on outreach
  • Increase in attendance from parishioners as well as growth
  • More follow up with newcomers, and after baptisms, weddings and funerals.
  • Increase in opportunity for parishioners from both services to get to know each other
  • Communication between services

 

Parish Goals

 

  • Maintain our Anglo Catholic tradition
  • Become a major Anglo Catholic Centre in the area
  • Maintain our buildings in good repair
  • Attract more people especially the young and families – To be a visible and caring member of the wider community
  • To teach and nurture believers – To strengthen and deepen our relationship with God
  • To respond to human need by loving service – To build a parish community through fellowship and care
  • To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom – To involve more people more often in the life of the church

 

Christian Formation/Education

 

We have a small Sunday school which is conducted each week during school term and meets during the 9.30am Solemn Mass.

Bible study

Religion in Life at West Bayswater Primary School

 

Future events:
Annual quiet day to be held during Advent

Lenten studies

Parish Picnic

Occasional preachers

Renewal of faith course

Extend bible studies further

Enquirer courses

 

Church Buildings

 

St. Stephen’s Church and Vicarage are located in a residential area of Bayswater. Opposite the church is the Bayswater West Primary School, a Kindergarten and a bowling club. The railway and local shops are approximately 10 to 15 minutes walk and Knox Shopping Center can be reached by bus or car in 10 minutes.

 

The current building was completed in 1977 and dedicated on 28th November 1978.

The buildings comprise a church, narthex and large hall, vicarage and the old church (The St Laurence Chapel now renovated) that was relocated from High Street in 1974

 

The Church is carpeted has two contemporary stained glass windows. There is an Aumbry near the high altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved indicated by a living flame nearby as well as a set of Stations of the Cross and an electronic organ.  The altar is placed for celebration of the Eucharist facing the congregation. We also have a projector and screen for the overhead display of hymns and supporting overheads for the sermon. The church can seat 140 people

 

There is also a smaller chapel altar to the left of the main sanctuary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hall is adjacent to the narthex and has a well equipped kitchen here we hold our social activities and our Sunday School along with several outreach program.  The hall is often hired on an occasional basis.

 

 

 

 

The Vicarage:  comprises of 4 bedrooms, lounge dining room, entry hall, vicar’s study, large kitchen and two bathrooms. There is also a two car garage and covered outdoor area. Ducted heating and an air-conditioner are installed.

 

 

 

 

 

The St Laurence Chapel is used for our 1662 Book of Common Prayer Mass once a month also for other occasional functions and concerts.  The building is timber lined and maintains the original stained glass windows. The church office is also located in the vestry of this building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budgeted Staff

 

A small allowance is paid to our organist/choirmaster for the many hours of reliable service given to our music program

 

There is a volunteer office secretary for one day a week

 

All other roles are voluntary and unpaid.

 

 

Lay leadership

 

Our Parish Council is composed of three Wardens two elected by parishioners and one by the parish priest, there is a secretary and treasurer as well as 5 other vestry members. The Parish Council meets monthly to discuss and decide issues relating to the well being and governance of the parish.

 

Parishioners also take up roles at St Stephen’s through the Ladies Guild, Care Group, Sunday school, Service Assistants and Acolytes, Outreach team, Publications of Pew Sheets and preparation of overheads and operation of the projector.

Parish History

 

 

 

 

 

The first Anglican Church Services in Bayswater were held in the Lutheran Church in 1898 sited near the intersection of Mountain Highway and Sydney Road. As Bayswater was a rural area at this time there was a difficulty in having a regular clergyman to conduct services.

 

In 1905 a clergy house was established in Ferntree Gully where several clergymen and students from Trinity Theological College lived, and it is they who provided the clergy who traveled on horseback to churches in the district of Vermont, Monbulk. Montrose, Bayswater and Macclesfield.

 

Since Anglican clergy conducted services at the Lutheran Church and there was difficulty in getting Lutheran pastors, many of the Lutheran congregation attended Anglican services and later made up the congregation of St Stephen’s Church of England when it opened in 1908.

 

Half an acre of land was donated by a Mr. Ridge in High Street as the site for the new church and the building was erected by a Mr. Garrett a builder from Box Hill. The church was dedicated on 28th November 1908 by The Very Reverend, The Vicar General, Archdeacon Hindley assisted by the Reverends Canon Tucker, E.J. Withycombe B.A., C.A.M. Cerutty ThL., and the staff, clergy and reader from the clergy house.

 

On the 11th August 1920 the district was divided into three parochial districts each having their own priest in charge. The Reverend Thomas McKeon was the first vicar of the Vermont Bayswater Parochial District.

 

St Stephen’s became an independent parish in the 1960’s with The Reverend Harry Ellson as the first parish priest.

 

 

Clergy:

            1920 – 1923              Rev. Thomas McKeon

            1924 – 1926              Rev. Craig

            1927 – 1936             Rev. Ernest T Leslie

            1937 – 1941              Rev. Jack Lee

            1942 – 1942              Rev. Berkeley Addison Rowell

            1942 – 1947              Rev. Frederick Alfred Philby

            1947 – 1952              Rev. A. G. Reynolds

            1952 – 1960              Rev. R. G. Mountney

1960 – 1966              Rev. Harry Ellson

1966 – 1979              Rev. Geoffrey Moorhouse

1979 – 1984              Fr. Ian Johnston

1984 – 1998              Fr. Peter Wilson

1998 – 2001              Fr. David Still

2002 – 2007              Fr. Ronald White

 

 

Church Buildings  

 

St Stephen’s Church of England was a brown timber building in High Street Bayswater. During the years alterations were made to the church buildings and many donations made for furnishings and decoration of the church. Around the time of the First World War services at the Lutheran Church ceased.  Most of the remaining Lutheran families had joined other churches in Bayswater, including St Stephen’s. In 1923 the Lutheran Church building was moved to the site in High Street where it became the church hall, a supper room was added to the building. The bell which had been imported from Germany for the Lutheran Church by Mr. Carl Schmolling in 1888 was also donated to St Stephen’s. This is the same bell that still calls the faithful to mass each Sunday

 

A Book of Remembrance was established in 1939 and it records some of the donations and additions to the church between 1939 and 1955.

 

A pamphlet published in 1957 describes plans for the parish buildings. An architect had begun preparing plans for a new parish hall. A new floor was installed in the old hall and the lower walls were lined. These were to be painted by the young people of the parish. With the growth of the parish a vicarage would be needed as the parish would be large enough to have its own Vicar. The vicarage was built in 1960.

 

Bayswater continued to grow and in 1968 the decision was made that the church should move from the shopping and business area of Bayswater to the new residential area of western Bayswater and Wantirna.

 

In 1974 the church building was moved from High Street to its present site in Warruga Avenue.  The building was renamed the Kleinert Hall and is now the St Laurence Chapel. A new building consisting of a church, narthex and hall as well as a vicarage were built on the Warruga Ave/Phyllis Street corner between 1975 and 1977. The dedication service for the new church was held on Tuesday 28th November 1978.

During the past twenty years there have been modifications to the church building. The crying room has been removed, the sanctuary lowered and the lighting in the church changed, and decorations have been added to the church.

 

Our next Priest

 

What we are seeking in our new priest isn’t all that different from what many parishes seek.  However we hope that by reading this Profile, candidates will develop a sense of what does make us unique. Mostly we seek someone who understands who we are as a congregation and feels called to guide us into greater fulfillment of our spiritual journey.

 

Our parishioners want an inclusive Anglo-Catholic priest with excellent liturgical and preaching skills that will draw us to church.  We want to be inspired, challenged and made to think about the meaning of the liturgy and the gospels.  We want to leave church feeling positive, inspired, enriched and motivated. We hope our new priest will convey a sense of spirituality.

 

Our new priest is not expected to be the only person to sustain the needs of this congregation. Volunteer support includes Church Wardens, Parish Council, Service Assistants, Acolytes, Ladies Guild, Care Group etc.

 

Virtually everyone in the parish wishes to see us grow in number, though no one wants to see its familial character change. We wish to remain an Anglo-Catholic parish and promote it as such in the area and expect that our new priest will promote our style of worship and theology

 

Music is also an important part of our church.  We seek a priest who will support our music program and who will work collaboratively with our organist/choirmaster in planning and selecting music which enhances the worship experience and deepens our faith.

 

We are seeking a full time priest and offer a substantial vicarage of four bedrooms located next to the church and a stipend in accordance with the diocese of Melbourne.

 

We look forward to finding the next step Christ is inviting us to take. The congregation is praying with open minds and hearts. We are faithfully awaiting God’s call to the next parish priest who will walk into the future with us.

 

 

 

 

What St Stephens expects from the new priest

 

Worship

 

We expect our new priest to be a loving, caring pastor who lives and walks in the faith of Jesus Christ.  We expect preaching to be thought provoking and challenging, relating scripture to daily life, and delivered with love and a sense of humour.

 

We expect the new priest to celebrate outwardly and reverently the Eucharist in the Anglo-Catholic tradition and ritual and to be flexible in accommodating the different needs of each individual service.

Pastoral care

 

We consider pastoral care to be a vital part of the clergy’s responsibilities. Visiting hospitals and home bound parishioners to provide them with compassion and support. We will also expect the new priest to train, guide and support others also in this important ministry.

 

Leadership/Administrative style

 

We expect our new priest to be personally organized and to possess a strong sense of direction and leadership. The priest should focus on working with groups and encourage others to take initiative. The new priest must be able to bring about change and welcome critics and different opinions while minimizing conflict. The new priest would feel comfortable delegating authority to the Parish Council, committees, sub committees and others.

 

We look for a new priest with strong communication an interpersonal skills and a genuine feeling of love and joy in Christ.

 

 

 

City of Knox Profile

 

The City of Knox is located approximately 25kms from the Melbourne GPO. Knox is one of the most populous municipalities in Victoria with almost 151,000 residents living in eleven localities. Knox residents are proud of their city’s leafy green image. They are protective of the nearby Foothills and other special places of biological significance. It is a community concerned for the welfare of others with residents from 130 different countries who speak 54 languages.

The City of Knox includes the suburbs of Ferntree Gully, Upper Ferntree Gully, Boronia, The Basin, Rowville, Wantirna, Wantirna South, Lysterfield, Knoxfield, Scoresby and Bayswater.

The City of Knox was named after the Hon. Sir George Knox, KBE, CMG, ED, MLA (1885-1960). Sir George was a distinguished soldier, Shire of Ferntree Gully resident and Councillor, who entered the Victorian State parliament in 1927 until 1960 and rose to Speaker of the Lower House. His military campaigns included Gallipoli, Egypt and Marseilles. His family’s motto ‘Move and Prosper’ was incorporated into the City of Knox Crest with its symbols of the City’s rural and indigenous history.

City of Knox Demographics

·        150,000+ residents

·        35,000+ residents born overseas

·        16% of residents from non-English speaking backgrounds

·        17.540+ families with children under 15 years old

·        Over 32,000 children under 15 years old

·        9% of residents aged 65 years and older

·        42% of resident workforce working in Knox

·        114 square kilometers area

 

 

Suburb of Bayswater

In 1842 two Irish brothers Hugh and Henry Rourke, established the ten square mile "Dandenong Creek" cattle run which included Bayswater and parts of present Boronia, Wantirna, Wantirna South and the Basin. In the course of its history Bayswater has been known as "Scoresby North", "Macauley", and finally, after 1895, as Bayswater. This title owes its origin to the birthplace of J.J.Miller, influential land-owner of the period, whose homestead at Boronia was known as "Melrose".  

Bayswater, at the turn of the 21st Century, is a thriving community of residential and commercial areas, interspersed with parklands and recreational facilities. Bayswater is also home to many national and international manufacturing companies. The Melbourne to Belgrave train line has a station at Bayswater, which is situated in the central business district.

According to the Bureau of Statistics 2006 census there are 10738 people who reside in Bayswater of these 1548 state they are Anglican.

Schools in the area

Primary:                         Bayswater West                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Bayswater

                                      Bayswater South

                                      Templeton

                                      Regency Park

                                      Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School

                                      St. Luke’s Catholic School

 

Secondary:                  Bayswater Secondary College

                                      Wantirna Secondary College

                                      Fairhills Secondary College

 

Other denomination in the area

 

Christian:                    Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church

                                    St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church

                                    Uniting Church

                                    Church of Christ

                                    Eastside Assembly of God Church