In the 1880's the Cathedral parish extended nearly to Fremantle in one direction, to Bayswater in another, and included South Perth and Victoria Park. The new Dean, the Very Revd Frederick Goldsmith was a man of vision and drive, and he saw that the town would soon expand to the north of Wellington Street, and that a church should be built in that area to minister to the growing population.
Five acres were acquired on Highgate Hill and in September 1888 the first service was held on the site under a gum tree. In January 1889 a public meeting was held in the Cathedral schoolroom "to which all of those are invited who are interested in the erection of a Mission Chapel at Highgate Hill". The response must have been good, for the foundation stone was laid in February 1889, and the building was completed, debt-free, four months later, and consecrated on 13 June 1889.
At first, St. Alban's was conducted as an outreach from the Cathedral, with one of the Cathedral curates taking charge of the work. In 1897 it became a separate parish, and became a centre from which new work was started at Bayswater, Maylands and Leederville.
The church was reconstructed and extended in 1898. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Forrest (the trowel he used can be seen in the WA Museum). A parish Hall was also built. This was opened with a mission, conducted by the Dean. "Night after night we went tramping through the sand singing hymns and bringing many back with us to the crowded hall. Some nights we halted at the 'Third Swamp' (now Hyde Park) and had a meeting with the men camped there" (Revd F.J. Price writing in 1937). In those days the bitumen ended at Brisbane Street - after that it was all sand tracks. A small booklet "Celebrating 100 Years of God's Grace" gives more information on the beginnings and present life of St. Alban's. Please ask for a copy.
During the ministry of the tenth Rector, the Revd Bryan Hall (1964 - 1977), the church became firmly established as a centre of evangelical witness and worship, with many going out from the congregation as missionaries and ordained ministers.
We believe it is the Word of God which changes lives and grows the church. We are committed to every member ministry of the Body of Christ and expect to see the life-transforming and empowering work of God's Spirit among us.
We have also developed a range of Small Church meetings to complement the large gatherings. We place a high value on these small meetings of the church.
More recently we have begun to diversify and decentralise our ministries. We have set up a variety of ministry teams with specific job descriptions and budgets, with authority to do the work. We have also set up a number of Oversight Teams which act as groups of elders in the different congregations - sharing with the Rector his role of pastoral oversight of the body.
In 1996 we planted a new church among non-church young people which centers its mission on an informal meeting on Sunday evenings at St. Alban's.
As those who founded St. Alban's stepped out in obedience and faith and followed the vision of their day, so we in this generation want to be faithful and obedient to what God is showing us.
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