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.

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 597AD when St. Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury established a mission in the south of England. (The word 'Anglican' comes from the Latin word for 'English'.)

All Saints' Church stands within the Anglo-Catholic, or 'High Church' tradition of Anglicanism, with the emphasis on traditional teaching, worship and pastoral care. 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 formal 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 sings at the principal Sunday Mass, and at Evensong on the first Sunday of the month, except during the school holidays. Many of the choir boys attend St. Michael's Grammar School, which is located a few hundred metres from the church, although choristers from any school are welcome. Another mixed choir, called the All Saints' Singers, assists at other services. The church has a fine 3 manual pipe organ, rebuilt in 1982.

The parish has an unique relationship with St. Michael's Grammar School. 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. Other traditionalist groups, such as the Prayer Book Society and the Society of the Holy Cross hold services and meetings at All Saints' from time to time.

The church, as well as being noted for its size, also has a beautiful interior, decorated in 19th Century English 'Tractarian' Gothic style. 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 has a full time Parish Priest (or Vicar), Fr. Ramsay Williams S.S.C.*, who is assisted by an associate priest, Fr. Neil Fryer, S.S.C.* The chaplains at St. Michael's Grammar also lead school worship at All Saints'. We have a full time Director of Music, Mr. David Macfarlane, Konzertdiplom (Vienna), BMus, LMusA, BEng. 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.

*S.S.C. - from the Latin 'Societas Sanctae Crucis' (Society of the Holy Cross), indicating a member of the priestly society founded in London in 1855.

Last updated: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Number of visitors: