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 church located in Kirribilli, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It is one of three locations for 'The Bridge Church', which is an Anglican church group. This church meets in the historic St John the Baptist Church building.
As of early 2022, The Bridge Church had about 1,250 people attending. This included around 1,000 adults and 250 children. People from many different backgrounds attend, including families, singles, and young people.
Contents
The History of The Bridge Church
Early Days of St John the Baptist Church
The Church of St John the Baptist started in 1884. It was first part of another church, Christ Church, Lavender Bay. In 1902, it became its own separate church area, called a parish. However, the number of people living in the nearby Milsons Point area went down in the 1970s. This happened because more businesses moved into the area.
A New Congregation Joins
In 1983, a group of people who spoke Chinese (Cantonese) joined the St John's church. They had been meeting at the Cathedral. Their arrival helped the church's finances get better. The church was able to pay its bills.
Merging and Growing Again
On December 1, 1989, St John's church joined with another church, St Augustine's in Neutral Bay. They were then known as St John the Baptist Kirribilli. The Chinese congregation grew quite a lot. Because of this growth, the church became an independent parish again. By 1993, about 90% of the church members were Chinese. The other 10% were local European residents.
Changes and New Beginnings
In 2007, the Chinese (Cantonese) group moved to Artarmon. Bishop Glenn Davies then asked Paul Dale to lead the St John's church.
In March 2011, a new evening service started at Christ Church, Lavender Bay. This group later moved to St Peter's Presbyterian Church Hall in McMahons Point in 2016.
On February 6, 2005, a new evening service began at St John's. It was called '6 for 6.15pm'. About 42 people came to this first service. This was the start of 'The Bridge Church', which was first known as 'Church by the Bridge'. This new service was a "church plant" from St Thomas' Anglican Church, North Sydney.
The Bridge Church Today
In 2020, The Bridge Church and St Augustine, Neutral Bay, officially joined together. They now form one large church parish.
Today, The Bridge Church holds services at three different locations. These are Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, and Macquarie Park. At the Kirribilli building, services happen at 8am, 10am, 5pm, and 7pm. At the St Augustine's site in Neutral Bay, services are at 8am, 10am, 4pm, and 6pm. In Macquarie Park, at the Trinity Chapel, services are held at 10:30am and 5:30pm.
Church Buildings and Design
The St John the Baptist church building in Kirribilli was designed by Edmund Blacket. It was built in 1884 and was meant to be a church school. The building is in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, simple shapes.
Later, in 1900, a vestry (a room for clergy robes) and a sanctuary (the main worship area) were added. The kindergarten building nearby was built in 1909. It was originally used as a church hall. The church building was added to the heritage register on August 2, 2013. This means it is an important historical building.
Community Activities
The church organizes a special event called "Carols Under The Bridge." This event takes place in Bradfield Park. The park is located right under the northern end of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. It's a popular community event, especially around Christmas time.
See also
- List of Anglican churches in the Diocese of Sydney
