Parish numbers at one of Melbourne’s oldest Catholic churches are on the rise, bucking a trend of shrinking Christian congregations around the nation.
Next month, hundreds of churchgoers will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Epping’s St Peter’s Catholic Church.
Melbourne’s first bishop, and later Archbishop of Melbourne, James Goold, first celebrated High Mass at the site on November 5, 1865, and laid a foundation stone.
The bluestone building was completed in 1867 and is Victoria’s oldest-standing Catholic church outside the CBD.
Parishioner and Epping resident Joan Bahen said she and fellow parishioner Michael Butler trawled old newspaper clippings to put together a book about the church’s history.
There will be a mass at 2pm on Sunday, November 8.
Copies of the book will be available. Details: 9401 6300 or bit.ly/1Llb5kf
