Christ Church, Geelong

The Christ Church is an Anglican church located in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Designed by Edmund Blacket, the church is the oldest Anglican church in Victoria, in continuous use on its original site.

On 9 October 1974 the church was listed on the Victorian Heritage Register with the following statement of significance:^[1]

Christ Church, Geelong is of historical significance due to its association with the early history of the Anglican Church in Victoria. It is the oldest Anglican Church in the State still occupying its original site. It appears to be the only extant example of Bishop Broughton's involvement in church design in Victoria. Christ Church, Geelong is of architectural significance as the only church in Victoria designed by prolific NSW architect, Edmund Blacket. It is a very early work of Blacket's and possibly his first church design. Christ Church, Geelong is of aesthetic significance for its remarkable, high quality collection of stained glass windows, in particular the fine examples of the work of Ferguson and Urie. Together these demonstrate the development of stained glass design from the early 1872 examples to the late 20th century work. The mural is also of significance as a rare example of this aspect of the work of important artist, Christian Waller.

— Statement of significance, Victorian Heritage Register.

History

The Geelong parish pre-dates the Diocese of Melbourne and was founded on 7 October 1843, when the Bishop of Australia, William Grant Broughton, laid the foundation stone at the north-east corner of the present nave. The church was opened and dedicated on 27 June 1847, and the enlarged church was consecrated on 25 October 1859. The church is the only one in Victoria designed by the colonial architect, Edmund Blacket.^[1] It was enlarged in 1855 by the addition of the transepts and sanctuary.

In 1941 Walter Charles Kernot, died. A memorial mural was commissioned from Christian Waller to "a good churchman" and was created in this church in 1942.^[2]

Christ Church has been given an A Classification by the National Trust^{[citation needed]} and is listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate.

See also

1. ^ ^{a b} "Christ Church, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H0186, Heritage Overlay HO7". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
2. ^ "Walter Charles Kernot | Monument Australia". monumentaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 19 December 2023.

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