St Philip's Collingwood
MELBOURNE
About Us
Who We Are
We express our love for Jesus Christ by lives of service and by sharing God's good news for all people.
​​Our services follow a traditional Anglican liturgy from A Prayer Book for Australia, comprising a sung Eucharist and using the three-year cycle of readings followed by most mainstream churches.
St Philip's is a small parish that thrives on the participation of its members in not only Sunday services but also the day-to-day running of the church.
A Potted History
Image: 1886 St. Philip's church and vicarage
St Philip's Collingwood has been serving the community since 1865. As the western arch of the first church of St Philip proclaimed all those years ago: 'Surely the Lord is in this Place, this is none other but the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven.' Gen 28:17
If you are interested in the history of our church, please click the link below and read 'St Philip's Collingwood: A Potted History'. This document was written by S. Lawrence and E. Furniss and most recently updated by B. Everett.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
St Philip's Collingwood prides itself on being diverse and inclusive. We welcome visitors and members of any walk of life to join us and participate in the liturgy, and are proud supporters of the LGBTIQ+ community, indigenous Australians, refugees and asylum seekers. All are welcome.
Creation Care - Sustainable Living
Part of God’s message to us is to be stewards of Creation. We draw inspiration from the words of Pope Francis in Laudato Si: On the Care for Our Common Home and from the lessons of the annual Seasons of Creation liturgy shared with the world-wide Anglican church and celebrated each September.
Along Hoddle Street we have established a biodiverse native garden, the first Communion Forest in Australia. An urban food garden built in partnership with participants in the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre programs is also used by social support groups at the Willowview Centre which provides home and support services for older adults.
Projects of the St Philip’s Sustainability Group include upgrading the parish infrastructure to get off gas (solar panels, LED lighting and electric appliances), composting of garden and kitchen waste, recycling of soft plastic and medicine blister packs. Each week a ‘green tip’ is provided in the pew sheet to encourage sustainable living and reflection.
Indigenous Reconciliation
Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is important to us, guided by Jesus’ message of love, repentance and forgiveness. Part of this requires respectful listening to Truth-Telling and the acknowledgement of the Church’s role in colonisation and dispossession, some of which was shared at the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
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As we work to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan for the parish, we continue to reflect through participation in special liturgies for Aboriginal Sunday, in January and NAIDOC Week in July, through the resources of Common Grace and through the leadership of Indigenous people in the Anglican Church.
A Prayer
God of forgiveness and hope, who sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to break down the walls that divide us from each other: grant that all Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with later migrants from many countries, may work together to heal the wounds of injustice in our past, and to build a community of care and compassion for our future.