Church celebrating 170 years

MEMBERS of Ballarat’s oldest church are in the midst of a busy year of celebrations as 2024 marks a major milestone for the parish.

With St Paul’s Anglican Church turning 170 years old this year, the community is acknowledging the occasion with a program of events into November.

Hedley Thompson has been a member of the church for 30 years and said it’s served as an integral pillar of Ballarat since its defining era.

“St Paul’s kicked off in the year of the Eureka Rebellion and started on Bakery Hill where the two monster meetings prior to that were held, so this is really significant,” he said.

“It was established at a time where there was no community service and things were ripping along. It took its place in that environment and immediately started to serve its community.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find another community organisation here that’s been going in Ballarat for as long as this one.”

The church community has already started celebrating with Sunday evensong events with the next slated for 30 July from 5pm which will feature the cathedral choir.

Prior to that, the parish’s annual patronal festival will take place on 30 June at 10am commemorating the arrival of Reverend James Thackeray in establishing the church.

A concert is also slated for October to celebrate the role of music within the church over the decades.

The milestone will coincide with the 170th anniversary of the monster meeting on Bakery Hill prior to the Eureka Rebellion, with the event to be held with the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council.

A Back to St Paul’s weekend from Saturday 16 November will see the church opened for further tours from 10am to 4pm.

The celebrations will be rounded out with a 10am eucharist on 17 November in honour of the church’s honour board inductees and past parishioners, which will be followed with a celebration lunch.

Parish rector Sister Elisa Helen said St Paul’s provides an ongoing service to the community.

“We have a coffee morning on Fridays and we don’t just get members but people looking for connection.

“We also have our plant sale twice a year which is a community fundraiser. There’s our singing group too, which most of the members aren’t even part of the parish.

“It’s a place where people can connect and find support and care in the community. It seems to be a particular mission of ours.”