St John’s Mitcham

Did St John’s Mitcham always look so grand? The current St John’s Church in Mitcham, a striking structure, wasn’t always here. The original church, built in 1872, served the burgeoning Catholic community of Mitcham. It stood on this very site. The first school in the parish, Ayr Hill Catholic School, shared the grounds. It was later renamed St John’s Catholic School in 1888. Imagine children learning their ABCs right here where we stand. Sadly, this first school closed in 1929, its small student body of around 30 merging with the local state school. For three years, the children of St John’s parish attended the state school. A new Catholic school was eventually built further down Whitehorse Road. However, St John’s Mitcham wasn’t forgotten. In 1959, a new primary school opened on the site adjacent to where the old church once stood. This new school was a precursor to the current church building, foreshadowing the parish’s rebirth. From 1952 to 1980, the Catholic community worshipped in a refurbished Nissen hut, a temporary solution while plans for a permanent structure took shape. The present St John’s Church emerged sometime after 1980, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Mitcham Catholic community. St John’s Mitcham also boasts a peaceful memorial garden. Here, plaques commemorating departed loved ones adorn the bell tower and the wall outside the east door of the church, creating a quiet space for reflection. The original church may be gone, but its legacy lives on in the vibrant St John’s Mitcham we see today. The church and its adjoining school stand as symbols of the community’s enduring faith and commitment to education.