about Christ Church
We at Christ Church acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and in particular the Wauthaurong people, as the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which this Church and its buildings now stand; and we acknowledge our gratitude that we share this land today, our sorrow for the costs of that sharing, and our hope that we can move to a place of justice and partnership together.
History of the Church
Christ Church is the
oldest Anglican Church in Victoria in continuous use on its original site.
The parish pre-dates the Diocese of Melbourne, and is the mother church of
Geelong Anglicanism. From 1841 a group
of laymen led by Henry Tyssen and later
Sir Charles Sladen
(first Treasurer of
the Colony) had striven to found a church.
The parish was founded on 7 October 1843 when
the Bishop of Australia,
William Grant Broughton, laid the foundation stone at
the north east corner of present nave.
A parsonage and schoolhouse, serving as a
temporary church, were built in 1843 but it was not until 1846 that a Vicar, The
Revd. Ebenezer Collins was appointed. The Church was opened and dedicated on 27
June 1847 and the enlarged church was consecrated on 25 October 1859.
The Church is the only one in Victoria designed by the colonial architect E.T. Blackett. The church was enlarged in 1855 by the addition of the transepts and sanctuary. The organ chamber (1925) and the vestries (1970) are later exterior additions. The exterior is of Barrabool freestone, pleasant to the eye, but liable to fret. In 1879 the top 4.5 metres of the tower were replaced. A century later, restoration work is again urgent!
From 1844-72, the parish had its own primary school, sections of which remain on the site. In 1869, The Geelong School of Design, a precursor of the Gordon Institute, began in the school room. It soon came under Geelong Grammar as Bostock House, thus completing the considerable contribution of the parish to eduction in Geelong. During this time Geelong Grammar School was established and used the church for its chapel until moving to Corio in 1914. Remnants of the school can still be seen behind the Admiralty Motel (in McKillop Street). In 1855 Canon Goodman was appointed and continued as Vicar for 51 years, an Australian record!
Christ Church has been given an A Classification by the National Trust, the top classification from the Historic Buildings Council of Victoria, and is listed on the Register of National Estate.
Restoration
and Maintenance
Due to deterioration of the external stonework, restoration work is becoming urgent. The heavy cost of maintaining an old building is borne by the freewill offerings of members of the congregation and by donations from well-wishers. Your help, too, would be appreciated.
