ST JUDE’S CHURCH
BRIGHTON, SOUTH AUSTRALIA ANGLICAN
PAUL SCOTT
A satellite view, plan and brief history of St Jude’s Church are given below. However, if you want to begin your tour of the Church immediately, tap / click on START . You can also access intermediate points in the tour by a tap / click on the following links:
SATELLITE VIEW
St Jude’s Anglican Church is situated on the east side of Brighton Road, and on the corner of the extension of Jetty Road which leads from the beach to the west, and into the large St Jude’s cemetery to the east.
In our church websites we always use liturgical directions in which the sanctuary is given the liturgical East (with a capital letter) direction, and the other directions accordingly. This convention causes no difficulties here, as the sanctuary lies in an almost exact easterly direction, geographically. The Church is interesting in that it is made up of two distinct parts. One is a little old chapel at the Eastern end, facing out to the cemetery. The other is a large, modern structure, high and spacious, looking something like a warehouse with its steel supports. There are two entry doors at the West end, and a sacristy in the Southeast corner. The chapel and the later large extension are separated by a screen, but the only internal connection is through the priest’s sacristy.
In our exploration of this Church we shall walk around the outside, investigate the chapel, and then look more carefully at the large auditorium.
PLAN
This plan is found on a Western notice board. It gives a slightly clearer idea of the layout of the Church and its surrounds, in particular revealing access doors on the North and South sides.
When we explore the interior, we shall begin at the Western narthex, walk around the nave in a clockwise direction, and finish at the sanctuary. This Church is an interesting example of combining old and new architectural styles.
HISTORY
Year Built: 1854
Address: 444 Brighton Road, Brighton SA 5048
Pre 1850s
Early settlers arrived in this seaside settlement during the 1840s and by 1851 a small community prepared for future development, which included an Episcopalian church.
1853 – 1899
Our pioneers had a vision of a grand church with cemetery, school and rectory – just like at home in England. These years were very challenging. However, by January 1854 the governor’s wife, Lady Fox Young had laid the foundation stone for the church which was completed and dedicated by Bishop Short in 1855. Short had already consecrated part of the cemetery donated by William Voules Brown.
The name of St Jude was chosen because he, like these pioneers, travelled by sea.
In the following years many worked hard to raise funds for extensions and fittings, so by 1894 the church was an impressive landmark in the rapidly growing community of Brighton.
During this period services were conducted by clergy from the neighbouring churches of either Glenelg or St Mary’s South Road and local Lay Readers. Most did not stay long but in the late 1880s the Rev’d Samuel French and his Assistant Curate, Alfred Sells, from Glenelg did much to help St Jude’s to grow as a community.
1900 – 1953
Finally Brighton was made a Mission District in 1900 and soon after in 1909 a Parish. With incumbent clergy and a rapidly growing congregation St Jude’s thrived. A hall, French Memorial Hall, was completed in 1904. A rectory was completed by 1914. By 1922 St Jude’s had a school run by the sisters Dorothy and Winifred Fleming which was called the Hopetown School. This ran until 1962.
In 1932 Grundy Hall was built which eventually became home to the St Jude’s Players in 1949. This group is still performing.
The vision of the pioneers was clearly evident.
1954 – 1964
On 1 March 1954 an earthquake hit Adelaide and severely damaged St Jude’s Church. Repairs were made but as the congregation was undergoing rapid growth a much larger church was needed. Bishop Thomas Reed conducted the first dedication service in the unusually designed church, which included both old and new, on 24 May 1964.
Some of the wonderful Voitre Marek, 1960s copper art works and ecclesiastical fundamentals for the mid-century St Jude’s building are catalogued here.
1965 – 2019
The modern history of St Jude’s reveals the church as the people of St Jude’s.
St Jude’s has been fortunate to have clergy of lengthy tenures and great commitment and vision. The Rev’d Colin Carew Chittleborough led a direction of worship which is still maintained with an emphasis on parish communion and education.
Music at St Jude’s has always been very strong with choirs, organ, small orchestra and performance. The Sunday School was very strong in the 1950s and 60s with a peak of 350 students and 41 leaders in 1965. The Mothers’ Union has maintained strong membership and caring support for parishioners since its foundation in 1896. Groups such as Craft/Art, Social, Sports etc. have all thrived at various times. The craft group has contributed much to the church. Education programs have always been a regular feature of St Jude’s such as the Lenten Suppers with talks and Winter Lectures
A source of information for this page is from a book written by Lochee Andison called ‘The Wake of St Jude 1854 – 1985’. Copies are still available from the parish office.
Another source has been the stories of people of St Jude’s. These have been collected as part of the ‘Who Do You Think You Are St Jude’s?’ history project. These stories are displayed in the church and continue to grow.
