A SYMBOLIC march from the Jim Dandy Hotel to St James’ Anglican Church on Sunday began a day of sesquicentenary celebrations.
The march paid tribute to the church’s founders who first congregated for worship in the hotel on 21 July 1850.
As well as local people, officers of the Native Police Force attended that first service and with them between 20 and 25 Aborigines in training at the depot.
In July 1855 two acres of land was appropriated on the corner of Langhorne and Wilson streets. The foundation stone of the present church was laid by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Charles Darling, on 5 July 1864. The rectangular church, built in an early English style, was dedicated on 2 January 1865.
In 1886 it was enlarged to accommodate a growing congregation.
Today the church comprises a diverse congregation of Christians, many of them originally from other parts of the world.
The church community gathered on Friday night at the Drum Theatre for a celebration concert, which was compered by young St James’ members Jacob Wright and Tatiana Devendranath. Performers included church organist Jeremy Smith, the City of Greater Dandenong Band and Reverend Jeffery Parker’s four children.
Following Sunday’s march, Reverend Parker led a special church service at 10am after which the congregation gathered for a special luncheon.
Celebrations continue in September with a flower festival on the weekend of 20 and 21.
Two books have been produced to mark the sesquicentary – one on the history of St James’ and another on the church’s stained glass windows.
