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
i
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 eople 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 ongregation 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 has been introduced to Cursillo
and some parishioners are exploring and will be attending the Cursillo weekends in May 2010
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.
7.30pm Evensong
1st Sunday of the month.
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 is a mass at 10.30am 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 foroutreach.
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
Annual quiet day to be held during Advent
Lenten studies
Parish Picnic
Occasional preachers
Renewal of faith course
Extend bible studies further
Exploring our faith 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 lady chapel
altar to the rear of the church.
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 programs. 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 Vestry 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 Vestry 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
2008- Fr. David
McMillan
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.
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. Lukes 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
