St. John's Anglican Church group, Epping, Victoria, Australia, c.1910 (original photo mounted on card).
"Darge 51 Spencer St, St Kilda" (on front of card), "11. c.1910 St John's Anglican Church, Epping, Vic - Church group c 1910" (handwritten on rear of card).
Source Copyright: Digital reproduction copyright of Whittlesea Historical Society, Inc. Whittlesea Historical Society, Inc.
ANGLICAN BEGINNINGS
For more than 150 years St John’s has served the community of Epping and district. The first Anglican service in Epping was held on 23 August 1863. It was held in the Church of England Denominational School in Campbell Street, where the Epping Railway Station is now situated. Epping was then a rural village set in the midst of farm land. Little is known about the early congregation except that there is a report that they were summoned to worship by a bell hung on a gum tree.
The need for a church building was soon apparent but the original site in Campbell Street was considered too close to the creek and a new grant of land was given in High Street. A bluestone church was built in 1869 and was known as St John’s. The location of St John’s became the catalyst for the relocation of the Epping Civic Precinct away from the creek. To the south of the church the offices of Epping Roads Board were built and later became the Shire Offices (now Epping Police Station). Across Church Street, to the north, Epping Primary School.
The blustone church was constructed with the enthusiastic volunteer labours of the local community and constructed of bluestone sourced and hand cut locally from the Cooper Street quarry. The bluestone church is heritage designated and is on the register of local buidings of historical significance. The interior contains early periord hand crafted original stained glass windows and a stunning east facing "Rose Window" by Australia's first Historic Colonial Stained Glass Craftsmen (founded in Victoria): Ferguson & Urie; circa 1869.
The church sanctuary and additions, added in 1936, were designed by the renowned Melbourne ecclesial architect Mr Louis R Williams.
PARISH CONNECTIONS
St John’s was connected with churches in Preston and Reservoir in various combinations until it became a separate parish in 1960. The new parish included the suburbs of Thomastown, Lalor and Mill Park as well as Epping and all the territory north to Donnybrook Road.
Post World War II migration brought many British immigrants to Thomastown and Lalor. In response, St Paul's Thomastown was opened in 1965 and the parish was named the Parish of Thomastown/Epping. St Paul’s Thomastown grew and developed as the main centre of the parish.
A NEW CHURCH BUILDING
St Paul’s Thomastown was sold in 1998 and the proceeds directed to renovate and build the new St Johns Church complex. Designed by architect Mr Alan Nance, the building works were completed under the guidance of the Vicar, The Reverend Barry Browne, and opened in 1999.
THE PARISH NOW
In 2008 the parish's name was changed to: The Parish of St John the Evangelist Epping. To this day, the congregation of St John's is characterised by its cultural diversity and its all age membership.
Past Vicars (Parish Priests) of the Parish of Thomastown/Epping, since its formation as a parish in 1960: The Reverends:
Gary Prince, Murray Richter, Len Blair, John Northfield, John McIntyre, Nigel Wright, Barry Browne, Ken Lay, Margaret Hartley.
Thanks be to God.
"EPPING RISING" By RW Hartley
Further information about the history of the parish can be found in a book published in 2009,
Epping Rising: an account of the Anglican Church in and around Epping, by RW Hartley.
Copies are available from the Parish for $20 (plus postage & handling).
Please contact the Parish Office.