All Saints' Church, East St Kilda, is a historic Anglican church within the Anglo-Catholic tradition, located at 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Although it advertises itself to be in St Kilda East, it is located just within the borders of the suburb of St Kilda. The church was initiated by Reverend Fr. John Herbert Gregory in 1857, who would serve as its first vicar, and its foundation stone was laid in November 1858. Designed by architect Nathaniel Billing in the Gothic style, the church was officially opened on December 8, 1861.[1]
| All Saints' Church, East St Kilda | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | St Kilda, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican Church of Australia |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | allsaints |
| History | |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Nathaniel Billing |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1400 |
| Administration | |
| Province | Victoria |
| Diocese | Melbourne |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | René Knaap |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | John O'Donnell |
The church is known as a fashionable venue for weddings, and the Australian Dictionary of Biography lists numerous notable marriages.[2]
Architecture and interior
editBilling, a pupil of Sir George Gilbert Scott, designed a long nave with side aisles. The church, built of bluestone with Tasmanian freestone dressings, is considered the largest Anglican parish church in the southern hemisphere, capable of seating up to 1400 people. Although the original plan for a 41-meter tower was never realized owing to financial constraints, All Saints' stands as an impressive example of Gothic architecture.[3]
Near the entrance of the church is the baptistry and a WW1 and WW2 sandstone sculpture memorial of parishioners who had died as a result of the conflict. Along the walls of the nave and toward the north and south transepts are various stained glass windows, depicting events in the life of Jesus Christ, and of many saints. This includes a window depicting Judas Iscariot, possibly the only church window dedicated to him in Australia.
Known for its stencilled chancel decorations, the church features elaborate decorations, most notably in the sanctuary, which hosts a marble altar. As with most Anglican churches built in the same period, the altar was designed to be the main focus of the church rather than the pulpit, intended for a more Catholic style of sacramentally-centred worship.[4]
In the north transept, next to the sanctuary, is the Chapel of Our Lady, used for weekday Masses. Inside it is an oratory dedicated to Our Lady of Walsingham.[5]
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The nave -
Chancel and sanctuary -
War memorial -
Baptistry -
Chapel of Our Lady -
Our Lady of Walsingham Shrine
Liturgical traditions
editAll Saints' conducts Anglo-Catholic style devotional and liturgical practices based on the English Missal, with ample use of incense and the wearing of complete sets of vestments for clergy and servers. Traditional English from the Book of Common Prayer is used throughout the liturgy, with traditional hymns and plainsong chants accompanying the worship.[6]
The church supports a rich musical life, with John O'Donnell as music director, maintaining a traditional parish choir of men and boys, along with a girls' choir, called the St. Hildegard Singers. In addition, there is also a choir of men and women called the All Saints' Singers, who mainly sing at the monthly Evensong service and special occasions.[7][8]
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Procession at Christmas Midnight Mass -
Consecration of the host -
Gospel reading
Parish priests
editAll Saints' has had a succession of parish priests, with the current 16th vicar being Fr. René Knaap. The church continues to uphold traditional Anglican doctrine, ministry and worship.[9]
Adjacent to the church is the Vicarage, built in 1860, where the parish priests live, showcasing polychrome brickwork.[10]
Gregory hall
edit
Built in 1910–11, Gregory Hall is an integral part of All Saints' complex, representing abstracted Gothicism with its beaten copper panel. It was named in honour of the church's first vicar and founder, Fr. Gregory. Presently, it has been leased out and transformed into a gym[11]
Founded in 1871 and being operated in Gregory Hall, All Saints' Grammar School was one of the earliest church-associated schools. The school saw periods of success and decline, eventually closing in 1937.[12]
References
edit- ^ Bomford, Janette (2003). The Spirit of St Kilda: Places of Worship in St Kilda.
- ^ "Australian Dictionary of Biography".
- ^ "All Saints Anglican Church, St Kilda East, Vic". Australian Heritage Commission. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ Bomford, Janette (2003). The Spirit of St Kilda: Places of Worship in St Kilda.
- ^ "Church Tour".
- ^ "Worship".
- ^ "Choral Music".
- ^ Soley, Stuart James (1997). "The Highest of the High" in "Marvellous Melbourne": All Saints East St Kilda as Melbourne's Original High Church, 1858–1908 (PDF) (Thesis). University of Melbourne.
- ^ "Clergy".
- ^ Soley, Stuart James (1997). "The Highest of the High" in "Marvellous Melbourne": All Saints East St Kilda as Melbourne's Original High Church, 1858–1908 (PDF) (Thesis). University of Melbourne.
- ^ Montgomery, M. (1948). All Saints Church, East St Kilda. University of Melbourne.
- ^ Humphries, Michael E. (1986). A School that has Passed: All Saints Grammar School, East St Kilda, 1871–1937 (Thesis). University of Melbourne.