Church by the Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Bridge Church (Kirribilli) |
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| St John the Baptist, Kirribilli | |
St John the Baptist Church, Kirribilli, pictured in 2007
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 The Bridge Church (Kirribilli)
Location in Sydney
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| 33°50′48″S 151°12′47″E / 33.846594°S 151.212942°E | |
| Location | 7-9 Broughton Street, Kirribilli |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Dedication | Saint John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Edmund Blacket |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Years built | 1884–1909 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kirribill |
| Diocese | Sydney |
The Bridge Church (Kirribilli) is a lively Anglican church located in Kirribilli, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It's one of three places where The Bridge Church meets, with others in Neutral Bay and Macquarie Park. This church is known as St John the Baptist Church and is found at 7–9 Broughton Street. In early 2022, about 1,250 people, including around 1,000 adults and 250 children, were part of The Bridge Church family. They come from many different backgrounds, whether they are married, single, or young families.
Contents
What The Bridge Church Believes
The Bridge Church has a clear vision for its members. They want to be a group of different communities who follow Jesus, living and loving like Him.
Their Mission
The church's mission is to help people grow strong in their faith. They want to share the good news of Jesus in their local areas, with their friends, and around the world.
Core Values
The Bridge Church follows 7 main values, all to honor God:
- Christ-centred: Jesus is the most important part of everything.
- Bible-based: They learn and live by what the Bible teaches.
- Prayerfully-dependent: They rely on God through prayer.
- Mission-minded: They care about sharing their faith with others.
- Servant-hearted: They want to help and serve people.
- Maturity-seeking: They aim to grow stronger in their faith.
- Church family: They see themselves as a close family.
The church hopes to see these values in all their gatherings. They also want to see them in the daily lives of everyone who attends.
How The Church Started
The Church of St John the Baptist began in 1884. It was part of a larger church area called Christ Church, Lavender Bay. In 1902, it became its own separate church area.
Changes Over Time
In 1983, a group of Chinese-speaking people joined the church. This helped the church financially. Later, in 1989, St John's joined with another church, St Augustine's in Neutral Bay. They were known together as St John the Baptist Kirribilli.
The Chinese congregation grew so much that the church became independent again in 1993. At that time, about 90% of the church members were Chinese. In 2007, the Chinese congregation moved to Artarmon.
The Bridge Church Begins
On February 6, 2005, a new evening service started with 42 people. This was the beginning of 'The Bridge Church', which was first called 'Church by the Bridge'. This new service was started by another church, St Thomas' Anglican Church, North Sydney.
In 2020, The Bridge Church and St Augustine, Neutral Bay, officially joined to form one large church family.
Church Buildings
The St John the Baptist church building in Kirribilli was designed by a famous architect named Edmund Blacket. It was built in 1884 in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, simple shapes.
Later, in 1900, a vestry (a room for clergy) and a sanctuary (the main worship area) were added. The nearby kindergarten building was built in 1909 as a church hall. The church building is considered important history. It was added to the heritage register on August 2, 2013.
What The Church Does
The Bridge Church holds services at three locations: Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, and Macquarie Park.
- At Kirribilli, services are held at 8am, 10am, 5pm, and 7pm.
- At Neutral Bay, services are at 8am, 10am, 4pm, and 6pm.
- At Macquarie Park, services are at 10:30am and 5:30pm.
The church also hosts a special event called "Carols Under The Bridge." This popular Christmas carols event takes place in Bradfield Park, right under the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
See also
- List of Anglican churches in the Diocese of Sydney
