St. Columb's Anglican Church

The church is located on the corner of Burwood Road and St Columbs Street.[1] The exact address is 5 St Columb's Street.[1][2]

The church is named after St Columb's Cathedral in Derry, Northern Ireland, in honour of Saint Columba (521–597), an Irish abbot and missionary who spread Christianity to Scotland.[3]

The church was founded in 1879 as a chapel of ease for Christ Church, another church in Hawthorn.[2] The main building was designed by George Wharton in the Decorated Gothic architectural style in 1882-1883.[3] It was built by James Anderson in the 1880s, using bluestone and freestone dressings.[3] The first sermon took place in 1883.[2] However, the entire church building was only completed in 1907, to the designs of architects H.W. & F.B. Tompkins.[3] Other buildings include the Large Hall on Burwood Road, which used to act as a Sunday School and is now SPL indoor Cricket and the 'chapel' for the Sunday 6pm service and other uses, and the Small Hall, a former nursery school which is now used for Sunday 10am kids church, Thursday playgroup and other uses such as choir and dance lessens.[3]

The stained glass was designed by William Montgomery, Alan Sumner and others.[3] The original pipe organ, built by William Stone of St Kilda, Victoria, was sold to St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Murwillumbah, New South Wales in 1923.[3] The current pipe organ, built by Roberts Ltd of Melbourne and Adelaide, has been in this church since 1923.[3] It is listed by the National Trust of Australia.[3]

In 2007, the pews were replaced with padded seats.[3] Since 2012, the church has received donations from Louise and Graham Tuckwell of the Tuckwell Foundation.[4]

The current vicar is Rev. Mark McDonald.[5]

St Columb's Anglican Church currently has two Sunday worship services: 10am in the church and 6pm "Live @ the Chapel" in the café.[6]