St Peter's Anglican Church East Lindfield

Our Mission

Upward, Inward and Outward in Christ:

St. Peter’s is a community that is committed to loving God, loving each other and bringing Christ’s love to the world, for the glory of God.

Our Focus

• At St. Peter’s we are convinced that Jesus is who he claimed to be, the unique Son of God, and that he also has the right to our ultimate allegiance. Our conviction is based on the historical claims made in the eye witness documents of the New Testament, especially the claim that Jesus rose from the dead.
  
  
• At each of our meetings we focus on relevant and applied Bible teaching because we believe that what the Bible says, God says. This is one way we equip individuals to grow as God’s person and our congregations to grow together as God’s people.
  
  
• St. Peter’s is a community church with active involvement in our local community including Scripture teaching at Lindfield East Public School and our own Playtime Group. We encourage members to apply their Christian faith in their workplace and neighbourhood.
  
  
• St. Peter’s is a church with a world focus. We provide financial and relational support for people and organisations involved in evangelism, relief and development work in Australia and overseas.
  
  

Church Services

While each of our Sunday services at St. Peter’s shares in our focus on Bible teaching, they vary greatly in style.

8:00 am Holy Communion

is a more traditionally Anglican, using a variety of prayer book services. Most are Lord’s Supper services with the occasional Morning Prayer service.

9:45 am Family Service

is a family-friendly, informal service with a contemporary music style. Children take part in these services, and during school term they have their own “Kids Club” meetings during the second part of the service. Morning tea is provided in the church hall after the service.

5:00 pm SN@P Youth Service

happens each Sunday evening during school terms. This service is aimed at teenagers, with a relaxed atmosphere, varied format and contemporary music.

7:00 pm Evening Service

aims at those who have already left school. The service has a relaxed and interactive style, and is perfect for those who want to explore further what God ahs to say in his word.

Our Staff

 

 

 

Youth and Children

We have an active and expanding ministry program that seeks to cater for young people for all ages.

St. Peter’s Playtime Group Contact: Shauna Noble on shauna.noble@stpeterseastlindfield.org.au

Caters for preschool children with interaction and creative play from 9:30am on Monday and Wednesday mornings in the hall beneath the church. This group provides a good opportunity for parents to get to know one another.

Kid’s Club Contact: Shauna Noble on shauna.noble@stpeterseastlindfield.org.au

Provides age-appropriate learning and interaction during the second half of the Sunday morning 9:45am Service during school terms for children over the age of two. A yputh discipleship group meets during this time as well.

VIBE Kids Club Contact: Shauna Noble on shauna.noble@stpeterseastlindfield.org.au
For years 4-6, meets on Friday evenings in the church Lower Hall from 3:15pm to 4:30pm (school terms).

THE COUCH Contact: Steven Layson on steven.layson@stpeterseastlindfield.org.au
For years 7-12, meets on Friday evenings in the church Lower Hall from 6:30pm-8:30pm (school terms).

Christianity Explored

Contact: Steven Layson on steven.layson@stpeterseastlindfield.org.au

Imagine: a chance to meet and discuss Jesus, the person at the centre of Biblical Christianity, with a group of interested people.

Imagine: a chance to ask all your questions, “no holds barred”, and to investigate the claims of the Bible for yourself.

Chirstianity Explored is a series of ten discussions about the basics of Biblical Christianity. Each discussion is limited to 2 hours and often includes dinner. Each meeting consists of a short video presentation and then discussion which is guided by group members’ questions.

Bible Studies

Contact: Steven Layson on steven.layson@stpeterseastlindfield.org.au

Do you want to know more about the word of God?

A number of Bible Study groups meet in people’s homes (or in the church) during the week. These are a great opportunity to hear & discuss what God has to say in his word, & to care for one another. There may be one that suits your schedule. Why not check our time table here ?

St. Peter's ... History In The Making

East Lindfield was developed as a new housing suburb after World War 2. Until the 1950s the area was bushland, with an occaisional farm cottage east of Archbold Road. The Department of Education was a large landholder and developed the East Lindfield Public School. Land next to this school had been reserved for a future high school.

Early in 1942 Canon Fred Tugwell stood on a vacant scrubby block of land facing eastern Tryon Road – then a dirt track. “One day this will all be developed; we ought to have a church here”. Following urgent discussions, St. Alban’s Parish Council applied to the Department of Lands to purchase the land adjoining East Lindfield Public School as the Department of Education had decided to build the high school at Killara.

Five residents – Miss Hirst of 99 Tryon Road, Mrs Baker of 15 Hobart Avenue, Mrs Glover of 39 Owen Street, Mrs Cornish and Miss Taylor of 2 Brisbane Avenue, offered help. They agreed to cover the whole district on a monthly basis to arouse interest and raise funds. Averaging about 2/- a visit they collected £64-14-8d. These visits developed an on-going pastoral ministry to young families in the area.

At its second meeting, East Lindfield C of E Committee agreed that St. Alban’s Council should purchase the land as offered for the total price of £556-5-0d.

Two children’s Sunday Schools had already been established in the homes of Miss Hirst and Mrs Baker; four forms were needed for seating but being wartime no timber was available – they did without!! The first Church Service in East Lindfield was held on 12 December 1942 on the verandah of Mr Walters’ home at 19 Owen Street. They had problems – the wooden verandah steps were dangerous and the pedal organ whistled!! A regular pattern of monthly Services was established.

Working bees to clear the scrub on the land were held frequently. The first Fete was held to raise funds; open fires were used to boil the billy for tea. The fete raised £110-2-0d. A picture night was also held – admission 1/6d!!

In September 1944 Mr Lindsay Little prepared plans for a Church Hall estimated to cost £1700. Application for permission to build was made to the Department of W.O.I It was rejected. Social events were held to raise funds; dancing was not allowed. In December 1945 regular monthly Services ceased because Mr Walters’ verandah was no longer available. Purchase of old Army huts was investigated but transport was too costly. Three months later in March 1946 a letter from the Department of Lands offered the adjoing 50’ block for £200. It was accepted. It would be used for a verger’s cottage. The Rectory now stands on the site.

Suddenly in June 1946, the Department of Labour and Industry wrote that if plans were put through immediately, permission to build would be given. The Womens Guild was formed to help organise. The estimated cost was now £3,000. Enquiries revealed nothing: “The application is being considered.” In November 1947 the Department of Labour and Industry advised that a permit could NOT be granted!

For about seven years after cessation of the verandah Services, people travelled to St. Alban’s for Sunday Services. Few had cars or telephones and travel was by infrequent bus or on foot.

In December 1948, at last !! A letter from the Department of Building Materials advised that, “Permission is given to build on the Church site”. The Architect submitted a modified plan to cost £4,000, half to be in hand before building could commence. We had £1,046 then!

Public meetings were called, and guarantors were found. By June 1950 we had £2060-8-4! The builder’s quote for £4,124 was accepted and work started.

On 11 November 1950, the Foundation Stone was laid by Archbishop Mowll, and shows the original Committee members – John Glover Hon. Treasurer, and Logan Baker Hon. Secretary. Seventeen months later, on 14 June 1952 the Church was opened for Public Worship. Canon Tugwell’s vision became reality. Praise the Lord!

The extensions to this building (including the kitchen) were designed by Arthur Kirkwood and opened in 1957. He also designed the Rectory, which was constructed in 1964.

St. Peter’s was named after Canon Tugwell at the suggestion of his wife, because she called him Peter (the Rock). The Dedication of the Church took place on St. Peter’s Day in 1952. The Church Bell was donated by Captain Hilder, retrieved from a ship that he knew was being broken up.

The present Church building, designed by Mr Rob Fotheringham, was completed in 1974 and has been in use ever since. The only change to it has been the addition of the Creche Room in 2001 and the establishment of the Memorial Garden at the front where ashes of past members of the Church may be scattered and plaques fitted to the wall.

(Writtern in June 1982, revised in June 2002)

History of St. Peter's Church Bell

The bell was originally the ship’s bell of ‘S.S. ‘Orungal’.

S.S. ‘Orungal’ (ex ‘Fezara’) , an oil-fired turbine steamship of 5,826 tons gross, was built in 1923 by alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd., Glasgow, fo rthe Khedivial Mail Steamship line and was operated in the East Mediterranean and Bosphorus Sea areas until 1927.

Thereafter the vessel was engaged in Australian coastal passenger and cargo service until she ran aground in a heavy fog on a reef off Barwon Heads, outside Port Phillip, in November 1940.

Unfortunately, during salvage operations the vessel caught fire and became a total loss.

Past Rectors

1962-1964 Rev. Eric Bellingham
1964-1977 Rev. Ken Wray
1977-1980 Rev. Brian Watt
1981-1986 Rev. John Robinson
1986-1997 Rev. Barry George
1997-2003 Rev. Greg Burke