- The parish processes from the Hall to the east end of the Church led by Rev'd Judith Lake and Oliver Hodson.
- Long term parishioners Bernie and Jess Proctor with Angus Fairlie. Bernie and Jess will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary at St Stephen's in October, and have seen much of the Parish's growth during this time.
Melbourne's first bluestone church celebrates 160 years
by Dennis Webster
Bishop Charles Perry dedicated the foundation stone for the first bluestone church in Melbourne, St Stephen's, Richmond, on Thursday, June 20th, 1850. Calling on the inspiration of the St Alban, first martyr of England, the new church was located on the vacant hill to the east of Melbourne on land purchased from Rev'd Jospeh Docker.
A lot has passed in the past 160 years. The inspiration St Stephen of diaconal service, and Alban-patron of refugees and those on the fringe, has been characteristic of the life of the Parish.
On the anniversary day, the Parish gathered at the East Wall near the foundation stone and sang hymns, giving hearty thanks for the past 160 years, and dedicating itself for the next. St
Stephen's is undergoing urgent remedial work, and the coming year promises to be one of great celebration once the church is restored. The Parish will be holding a Back to Church Tuesday on November 16th, the anniversary of the first service in the new Church in 1851 to formally begin the 160th year celebrations.
Fr Dennis Webster is the vicar of St Stephen's Richmond.