This Week at St Stephen's

The Seventh Sunday of Easter

8.00am Said Eucharist

10.00am Parish Eucharist with Baptism
President & Preacher: Rev'd Dennis Webster SCP

Click on the photo to see details of services and events coming up at St Stephen's

Coming Events at St Stephen's

St Stephen's Parish Prayer

O gracious Father, by whose Spirit of love
we have been brought into the sacred fellowship of this Parish;
strengthen, we pray, the bonds which unite us,
helping us to worship you
with such holy worship,
to serve you and all your children
with such unselfish love

and to give so freely
for the extension of your kingdom,
that our Parish may faithfully fulfill its mission
to witness boldly to your truth
and convey your life to all;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Research and Records

St Stephen's receives numerous request for assistance regarding research into family history. St Stephen's is one of Melbourne's oldest Churches, and was the most eastern church of the new city of Melbourne during the 1850s and 1860s. We are proud of our heritage, which includes many of the marriages, baptisms and burials for Melbourne's pioneers.

Limited records are held on site. All records and historical material dating from before 1960 are held at the State Library of Victoria. If you wish to research a family member associated with St Stephen's prior to 1960, please contact the SLV directly by clicking here.

St Stephen's is an Inclusive Church

Our Inclusive Church Charter:

We affirm that the Church's mission, in obedience to Holy Scripture, is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every generation.

We acknowledge that this is Good News for all humanity without discrimination or distinction.

We believe that, in order to strengthen the Gospel's proclamation of justice to the world, and for the greater glory of God, the Church's own common life must be justly ordered.

To that end, we call on our Church to live out the promise of the Gospel;
     to celebrate the diverse gifts of all members of the body of Christ;
     and in the ordering of our common life to open the ministries of deacon,
     priest and bishop to those so called to serve by God.

For more information, visit Inclusive Church.

Asylum seekers at heart of
St Stephen's mission

‘Expulsion from the Garden before Arrival’ (2004), by Melbourne artist Hedley Potts, (see above) provided a dramatic focal point at St Stephen’s, Richmond on 8 January as the Parish prayerfully considered the current debate in Australia about refugees and asylum seekers.

“The title of the terracotta bas-relief ‘drawing’ is a reference to Masaccio’s painting ‘Expulsion from Paradise’ (1427) with which it makes a powerful contrast because the couple here is not even able to enter the garden before expulsion,” Mr Potts, a member of St Stephen’s, told TMA. This is one of several artworks he has produced which focus on the plight of refugees. “These works are deeply felt, like my faith… and at this time of year we only need to be reminded of Christ’s parents making a perilous journey down to Egypt. Our Christian empathy then follows to those whose lives are threatened in many places today.”

The Vicar of St Stephen’s, Fr Dennis Webster spoke of the need for the Church to advocate strongly with all major parties “about how it is shameful to Australia and our heritage that asylum seekers have become part of a political impasse.

“Our basic Christian duty requires us to treat all people with equality, as they, like us, are made in God’s image… ‘When did we see you in need, Lord?’ is a also a good starting point when considering this issue. Jesus said ‘Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me (see Matthew 25.40)’. For those who come across the sea, there is much more we need to do and share.

“On the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus [8 January], the Parish concentrated on Asylum Seekers deliberately.

Read more here.

Serving the Richmond community since 1850

Asylum seekers at heart of St Stephen's mission

Asylum seekers at heart of
St Stephen's mission