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Historic All Saints' Church is located at the corner of busy Dandenong Road (the Princes Highway) and Chapel Street, East St. Kilda, just south of the famous Chapel Street tourist precinct. The Astor cinema is opposite the church hall. Trams pass the site in both Dandenong Road (routes 05 & 64) and Chapel Street (routes 78 & 79). The Windsor railway station (on the Brighton/Sandringham line) is only a few hundred metres away. The train journey to/from the Melbourne CBD takes less than ten minutes. As well, there is car parking available for worshippers in the car park beside All Saints’ Church.
The church is one of Melbourne's oldest. The foundation stone was laid on 8th November 1858 and the first service was held in the church on the 8th December 1861. The building, which can seat up to 1400 people, is said to be the largest Anglican parish church in the southern hemisphere.
Our parish is part of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, within the Anglican Church of Australia. It is part of the world-wide Anglican Communion, which has its beginnings in the Church of England. The Anglican Church has a history stretching back to the Roman occupation of Britannia. When the Romans left, Christianity remained, endured and flourished in certain parts of the British Isles. In 597 AD St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury established a mission of the Latin Church in the south of England. (The word 'Anglican' comes from the Latin word for 'English'.)
All Saints' Church stands within the Anglo-Catholic, tradition of Anglicanism, with the emphasis on traditional teaching, worship and pastoral care. The word of God and the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist (or the Mass) are at the heart of our parish life. Services are in the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer and are characterised by dignified ceremonial and fine music. Indeed, our church has the only traditional parish choir of men and boys in the Diocese of Melbourne. We are the only remaining parish in Melbourne where traditional 'Prayer Book' language is still used in all the principal liturgies.
All Saints' has a choral tradition going back to the mid-19th Century. The parish choir of men and boys, known as “All Saints’ Choir,” sings at the principal Sunday Mass except during the school holidays. A mixed choir, “The All Saints' Singers”, assists at Evensong on the first Sunday of the month, except January and on certain other occasions. The church has a fine 3 manual pipe organ, rebuilt in 1982.
The parish has an unique relationship with St. Michael's Grammar School which is located over the road in Chapel St. All Saints' Church is often used by the school for special services.
People travel from all parts of Melbourne, and sometimes beyond, to worship regularly at All Saints', attracted by the traditional liturgy, orthodox teaching and fine music. Many others have a link with the church through the choir, or St. Michael's Grammar School, or because a significant event, such as a baptism, wedding or funeral at All Saints' has touched their lives.
All Saints' is affiliated with "Forward In Faith", an international movement which seeks to preserve, maintain and extend the Catholic and apostolic faith as it has been received within Anglicanism. Accordingly, the Clergy and Vestry of All Saints’ Church uphold the traditional faith of the Catholic Church as expressed in the formularies of the Book of Common Prayer, and the teachings of the General Councils of the Universal Church.
All Saints’ is also the home of the Prayer Book Society of Victoria, a society of people dedicated to preserving and celebrating the contribution made to the faith and culture of Anglicanism and Christianity in general by the Book of Common Prayer.
The church, as well as being noted for its size, also has a beautiful interior, decorated in 19th Century English 'Tractarian' Gothic style. In 2008, the interior of All Saints’ Church was beautifully and faithfully restored. It is certainly one of the finest Victorian Gothic buildings in Melbourne and Australia. It houses many fine objects, including some of the best stained glass windows in the country. (Some of these can be seen in the Photo Gallery.)
Our Parish Priest (or Vicar), is Fr. James Bishop. He is assisted by two associate priests, Fr. Neil Fryer, S.S.C. and Dr Ian Hunter, S.S.C. The chaplains at St. Michael's Grammar also lead school worship at All Saints'. Our Director of Music, Mr John Rivers, is one of the most experienced church musicians in Victoria and has come to us after 17 outstanding years as Director of Music at Holy Trinity Cathedral Wangaratta. He trains and directs both the choirs as well as playing the organ. A team of lay people also share in the day to day running of the Parish. (Details can be found in the Parish Directory.)
For further information about the history of All Saints', visit the St. Kilda Historical Society's website, "The Spirit of St. Kilda: Places of worship in St. Kilda", by historian Dr. Janette Bomford, and follow the links to All Saints', East St. Kilda.
Last updated: Monday, March 15, 2012
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