Consider the letters patent of Queen Victoria. These were read on the steps of St Peter’s Catholic Church declaring Melbourne a city in 1848. This makes St Peter’s a cornerstone of Melbourne’s history.
St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill stands proudly. It’s on the corner of Albert and Gisborne Streets. This Anglican church has a rich history dating back to 1846. Charles La Trobe laid its foundation stone.
St Peter’s is the oldest Anglican church still on its original inner-city site. Services began in 1847. The first section wasn’t completed until 1848.
During the gold rush years St Peter’s was a hub of activity. Around 400 baptisms and weddings occurred annually. To accommodate the growing congregation it was extended in 1854. This increased the seating to 1050. Galleries added then were removed in 1896. The last extensions happened in 1876.
St Peter’s developed a reputation for good choral music. This especially grew under Vicar Henry Handfield. He served from 1854 to 1900. The church also became involved in social outreach. The Sisters of the Holy Name began working within the parish in the 1880s. Opera singer Nellie Melba even had organ lessons here. Novelist Henry Handel Richardson worshipped at St Peter’s. She fictionalized this in “The Getting of Wisdom.”
In 1900 Ernest Selwyn Hughes became vicar. He gave St Peter’s an Anglo-Catholic identity. He introduced High Mass with vestments and incense. Farnham Edward Maynard continued this tradition. He emphasized a radical message through publications and radio broadcasts.
At Maynard’s urging, the Brotherhood of St Laurence came to Fitzroy in 1933. They contributed to Melbourne’s social conscience. Hughes’s and Maynard’s inclusive attitudes influence the parish today.
Inside St Peter’s you can find a stained-glass window. It shows Marian Hughes taking religious vows. She was the first woman since the Reformation to do so. She’s depicted giving her vows to Edward Pusey.
St Peter’s is known for its music quality. The Choir of St Peter’s Eastern Hill enhances liturgical music. They perform every Sunday and on weekdays. The choir mainly sings at the 11 am High Mass.
The church’s repertoire includes Renaissance and Baroque music. Pieces by Dufay, Palestrina, and Bach are often performed. They also sing masses by Mozart and Haydn. You can hear works from the Romantic and modern periods too. Contemporary works and commissions from Australian composers are included. Plainsong is a major part of St Peter’s life. It is used in the Mass and Evensong services.
Today St Peter’s continues to serve the community. It provides chaplaincy services to hospitals and universities. The Lazarus Centre offers food and referrals to those in need. It provides breakfast to the homeless every day.
So, when you step inside St Peter’s Catholic Church, remember its history. Think of the countless services. Consider the music. Reflect on its commitment to social justice. It is a place of beauty, tradition and community.