History
In 1803 the first C of E (Church of England) service in Southern Australia was held in sight of the You Yangs – what was to be part of Little River 3211. The service was taken by the Rev. Robert Knopwood at Sullivan Bay near the future site for Sorrento.
In 1842 – St James – Melbourne’s first C of E church was opened and in 1850 its second – St Paul’s Church – on the future site of today’s Cathedral of the same name.
In 1857 Anglicans of Little River attended their first service at the You Yangs Parsonage and by 1877 their new bluestone church building was opened.
On the 13th June 1877 the Little River Anglican Church had its cornerstone laid with a silver trowel, had its Bishop preach of the widow’s mite and its architect illuminate a large crowd as to the location of coins of the realm by then deposited under the stone. The Reverend Alfred Caffin was Pastor of the Parochial District. The large choir conducted by Miss M’Cord sang before them. On the 16th December 1877 the “pretty little church” with seating for 80 was open for Divine worship but not at its present location. The same building yes but Rothwell Road no! By the early 1890’s the congregation resolved to move the bluestone church, then called St James and on Little River-Ripley Road, to the centre of town. They did – stone by stone. On the 22nd December 1893 his Lordship Field Flowers Goe DD, third Bishop of Melbourne, re-named and consecrated the relocated church. In 1877 there were hardly 170 residents in Little River. Today, there are 1,700 and in five years?
In 1842 – St James – Melbourne’s first C of E church was opened and in 1850 its second – St Paul’s Church – on the future site of today’s Cathedral of the same name.
In 1857 Anglicans of Little River attended their first service at the You Yangs Parsonage and by 1877 their new bluestone church building was opened.
On the 13th June 1877 the Little River Anglican Church had its cornerstone laid with a silver trowel, had its Bishop preach of the widow’s mite and its architect illuminate a large crowd as to the location of coins of the realm by then deposited under the stone. The Reverend Alfred Caffin was Pastor of the Parochial District. The large choir conducted by Miss M’Cord sang before them. On the 16th December 1877 the “pretty little church” with seating for 80 was open for Divine worship but not at its present location. The same building yes but Rothwell Road no! By the early 1890’s the congregation resolved to move the bluestone church, then called St James and on Little River-Ripley Road, to the centre of town. They did – stone by stone. On the 22nd December 1893 his Lordship Field Flowers Goe DD, third Bishop of Melbourne, re-named and consecrated the relocated church. In 1877 there were hardly 170 residents in Little River. Today, there are 1,700 and in five years?
The Communion Table
The Communion Table was dedicated by Rev. A.C.F. Gates, Vicar of Little River from 1923-1927 in the memory of the late Mrs. Terdich on May 17 1924
The gift was presented to the parish by Mrs J. Ball who at the time resided in Little River.
The Communion Table is a very handsome piece of work, executed in beautifully figured blackwood.
The design was copied from the memorial altar in the Lady Chapel of St Andrews Cross Clifton Hill, but slightly reduced in size.
The gift was presented to the parish by Mrs J. Ball who at the time resided in Little River.
The Communion Table is a very handsome piece of work, executed in beautifully figured blackwood.
The design was copied from the memorial altar in the Lady Chapel of St Andrews Cross Clifton Hill, but slightly reduced in size.
170 Years of Reverends
Year Reverend
1856 – (1875?) The Rev. Thomas Fullager 1875 - 1887 The Rev. Alfred Caffin 1877 H.L.Bishop James Moorhouse DD Φ 1887 – 1890 The Rev. H. Kelly 1890 – 1892 The Rev. W. G. Marsh 1892 – 1895 The Rev. W. E. Percival 1895 – 1898 The Rev. A. K. Kellaway 1898 – 1904 The Rev. H. W. Lane 1904 – 1908 The Rev. C. G. Brazier 1908 - 1911 The Rev. J. T. Redhead 1911 - 1916 The Rev. H. T. Fowler 1916 - 1917 The Rev. C. C. MacMichael 1917 - 1923 The Rev. J. S. Woods 1923 - 1927 The Rev. A. C. F. Gates 1927 - 1940 The Rev. W. E. Dexter 1940 - 1943 The Rev. G. L. Perry 1945 - 1949 The Rev. J. A. Rowell 1950 – 1954 The Rev. Lindsey Y. Pace |
Year Reverend
1954 - 1956 The Rev. W. ‘Bill’ Carter 1956 - 1960 The Rev. Robert L. Butterss 1960 - 1966 The Rev. A. L. Mills 1966 - 1974 The Rev. Fred Dearnaley 1974 - 1982 The Rev. Noel K. Cockings 1982 - 1991 The Rev. Bruce E. Hansford 1991 – 1991 The Rev Lesley R. Girvan Ļ 1991 - 1995 The Rev. John E. Swift 1996 - 2002 The Rev. Elizabeth A. Dean 1997 Most Rv Archbishop Keith Raynor Φ 2002 – 2003 The Rev. B. E. Muller Ļ 2003 – 2003 The Rev. Noah Park Ļ 2003- 2010 The Rev. Elaine E. Ryan 2010 – 2011 Father David Patterson Ļ 2011- 2020 The Rev. Shirley Littras 2020- 2021 The Rev. Lynne Clarke Ļ 2021- The Rev. Roxanne Addley KEY: Ļ = Locum Φ = Visit by senior clergy |