Welcome
“Within these walls generations of Australians have shared their lives together before God.”
Welcome to St Philip’s York Street Anglican, the cradle of Christianity in Australia. On this website you will find more information about our church and ways that you can be involved. Visit us, and become part of the history of God’s people in this place.
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In January 1788 eleven ships and their companies, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip RN, and carrying around 1400 people, including 759 convicts, arrived on the east coast of what is now Australia to establish a penal colony. The Chaplain of this, the First Fleet, was the Rev Richard Johnson and he conducted the first Christian service in Australia on 3 February 1788.
The wattle and daub church built by Johnson in 1793 was burnt down in 1798. A new stone church named St Philip’s was opened in 1810, and this was replaced by the current building in 1856.
