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Parish Profile
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ST STEPHEN�S ANGLICAN CHURCH

 

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

 

 

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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