A Century of Faith: St. Dunstan’s Camberwell Celebrates Centenary with Historic Thanksgiving Service
CAMBERWELL — St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church recently marked a monumental milestone, celebrating 100 years of living faith, community service, and worship with a beautiful Centenary Thanksgiving Service.
Parishioners, visitors, and distinguished guests gathered inside the historic church, defying the "showers of blessing" outside, to fill the sanctuary with warmth, reflection, and joyful praise. The historic milestone focused not merely on the longevity of the building, but on the enduring faithfulness of God and the community across ten decades.
Honoring the Journey from 1926 to 2026
The service opened with a powerful visual tribute to the church’s history. Symbols representing different decades of parish life were brought forward, highlighting the many seasons, growth, and transitions the community has navigated since its founding in 1926. Moving forward with a spirit of inclusivity, the congregation paused to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, recognizing their long care for the place and its spirit.
The church was honored to welcome Archbishop Ric Thorpe and his wife, Loui, marking their very first visit to St. Dunstan’s. The congregation also gave a warm, familiar welcome to Bishop Alison Taylor, who served as the beloved vicar of the parish for ten years and holds a deep connection to its people and ministries. Local dignitaries, including John Pesutto MP and Boroondara Councilor Lisa Hollingsworth, were also in attendance to share well-wishes with the parish. Clergy from neighbouring parishes were also present to bless the occasion.
You can watch Archbishop Ric's Message on St. Dunstan's YouTube Channel.
Praise, Character, and Looking Forward
In his centenary sermon, Archbishop Rick Thorpe offered three reflections centered on praise for the past, character in the present, and mission for the future.
"Christian remembrance is never static—it’s always dynamic," Archbishop Thorpe shared, notes of praise echoing the parish's century-long footprint in Camberwell. He honored the generations of parishioners who sacrificed to shape the church's spiritual character through global upheavals, changing cultures, and community expansions.
Looking toward the next 100 years, the Archbishop challenged St. Dunstan's to keep its eyes turned outward to the mission field of Camberwell—serving locals, welcoming newcomers, and leaning into its beautifully developing multicultural life.
Souvenirs of a Shared History
As the service drew to a close, a deeply meaningful exchange took place. Archbishop Ric and Bishop Alison were presented with special centenary crosses made by a former registrar, John McKenzie. In a beautiful touch of heritage, the crosses were handcrafted directly from weathered church pews that had been kept outside. Every family in attendance also received one of these unique wooden crosses and a commemorative keychain to take home as a permanent reminder of the milestone.
The celebration concluded with an invitation for the entire congregation to stay for a historic group photo to anchor the day in church archives forever. Attendees then moved to the parish hall for a lively morning tea, where parishioner Paul Adams officially shared words of thanks, and local dignitaries offered their official congratulations.
As St. Dunstan's looks to the future, the centenary signals the beginning of a new chapter. With vibrant community programs—including its thriving kindergarten celebrating its 80th year, multicultural outreach, and local age-care ministries—the parish enters its second century firmly rooted in its rich history and ready to serve the Camberwell community for generations to come.
You can watch the full service on St. Dunstan's YouTube Channel.
To discover more about the parish's rich history and browse event photo galleries, visit the Centenary Feature Page on the St. Dunstan's Website.