A Brief History of the Church

The Church Building

Saint Augustine's was established in 1887. A wooden church building was constructed on the site of the present building. Some of its foundations are still visible, and some of its furnishings are still in use. These include the lecturn, believed to have been made from a man-of-war gun carriage. The foundation stone of the present building was laid in 1923, and the structure was built around the old church before it was demolished.

Inside the building

The organ was built in 1929 by Hill Norman and Beard. It has two manuals, and is serviced and tuned every two months, to keep it in good condition.

The bell is located in a special tower on the southern side. It is inscribed "plango mortuos, voco vivos" (I mourn the dead, I call the living).

Four Screen Prints on the walls depict Biblical events. They are the work of Una Foster, a former member of our church.

Rectories

Several nearby buildings have served as the rectory. The last was the home next to the church hall - the vast and maintenance-costly "Isla". It was sold in 1989. Proceeds have provided us with a house in Naremburn, as well as funds to build the present rectory (the first purpose-built rectory) on the southern side of the church building and to support several Christian ministries across Sydney.

Meeting halls

The War Memorial Hall was built in 1958 (previously it was the site of the former rectory's tennis court). The hall is used by the Neutral Bay Pre-school during weekdays. We use it for larger gatherings in the evenings or at weekends. Most other meetings are held in the rooms under the church; there is a large hall called "the lower hall" and two recently renovated rooms known as "the conference room" and "the meeting room". The church office is also in the same area.

Ministers

There have only been six rectors of the parish in over 100 years.

• George North-Ash : rector from 1887 to 1921
• Louis Pearce : rector from 1922 to 1937
• C.T. Kenderdine : rector from 1938 to 1959
• Tom McKnight : rector from 1960 to 1982
• Maurice Lee : rector from 1983 to 1989
• Ken Yapp : rector from 1990 to 2003
• Craig Roberts: Associate Minister from 2000 to 2003
  and was appointed Senior Minister in October 2004

The Parish

For most of its history, St Augustine's has been a parish on its own. Since September 1999 the church at St Chad's Cremorne Point has been amalgamated with us. Our rector is responsible for ministry in both churches.