On June 29, 1823, St Peter’s Anglican Church was officially opened. Two hundred years later, St Peter’s still stands as an iconic presence at the top of Mawson Park in the heart of the Campbelltown central business district.
The church building is one of the most recognisable in Campbelltown.
Along with the cemetery and White House they form a part of the early history and life of the city of Campbell Town, as Campbelltown was originally named.
Campbelltown has seen incredible change over 200 years and yet this church has stood rock solid watching over those changes for all of those years, and at the same time providing spiritual nourishment for the members of its flock.
The current senior minister of St Peter’s Church, Reverend Jason Veitch, says that over the past 200 years there have been 10,000 Sundays where people have gathered in the name of Jesus in that one location.
This Saturday, July 1, to mark the 200 year anniversary, St Peter’s is holding a community open day between 9am and 3pm – and everyone is welcome.
As well as a celebration service at 11am to be conducted by the Archbishop of Sydney and the Bishop of South West Sydney, there will be historical displays and site tours of the St Peter’s precinct, including the cemetery.
VIPs will include the Mayor of Campbelltown George Greiss and local State MP Greg Warren.
However, while the church is celebrating a building anniversary, Rev Veitch said that the real celebration is the large community of people who have gathered there week by week.
“Some of the current members have been going to St Peter’s church their whole lives, 80 or even 90 years,’’ he said.
“That kind of connection is rare in the modern world; it is a product of the faith, hope and love that the church members have come to know in Jesus.
“The hope of the church members is that many more locals come to join in with the church and help to create a legacy that will be celebrated at the 300 year anniversary,’’ Rev Veitch said.
