The History of St John’s, Soldiers Hill
For more than 160 years, St John’s Anglican Church has stood as a place of worship, welcome, and Christian witness on Soldiers Hill.
Our story is one of faithfulness — shaped by generations who prayed, served, built, gave, and trusted in God’s presence.
To this day, St John’s remains a living sign of God’s grace in the Ballarat community.
A Parish Rooted in Ballarat’s Beginnings
The church of St John stands near the place where soldiers camped prior to the events of the Eureka Stockade in 1854 — one of the most defining moments in Victoria’s history.
A decade later, as Ballarat continued to grow north of the railway line, a new Anglican presence was needed to serve the families who had settled on Soldiers Hill.
On 15 March 1864, the foundation stone for St John’s was laid.
Less than a year later, on 15 February 1865, the church was opened for worship — illuminated not by electricity, but by kerosene lamps, casting a warm glow over a hopeful new community.
The earliest worship at St John’s had already begun in simpler spaces:
first in a tent, then in an old bar room moved from Bath’s Hotel. These humble beginnings echo the pilgrim spirit that has marked our parish life ever since.
The sanctuary and chancel were added in 1870, giving St John’s the distinctive form the parish knows today.
The church was consecrated in 1874.
Among the early clergy, the Rev’d R. J. Mercer holds a special place. Inducted in 1875, he served until 1892 and became one of the most respected priests of the newly formed Diocese of Ballarat.
Through these early decades, St John’s became known for:
- its simple yet beautiful timber interior
- sacramental and prayerful worship
- warm pastoral care
- strong involvement in parish and neighbourhood life
A Living Community of Pilgrims
In every era, the people of St John’s have been described as a community of “many hands”:
creating a place where worshippers, travellers, and pilgrims can pray, reflect, and sojourn for a time.
A century ago, Archdeacon Joseph Best, beloved former vicar and “grandfather of the parish,” wrote these words in the parish paper of 1915 — words that remain deeply appropriate today:
“The past has its glory; and if there have been days when the glory seemed to shine less brightly, let us forget them. Let the glorious years of past cover over the years of stress. Let us feel that we have commenced to write a new chapter in the history of St John’s — a chapter worthy to stand by the worthiest pages of the past.”
His vision still guides us: cherishing our history while writing new chapters of faithful worship and service.
The Anglo-Catholic Tradition in Ballarat
As the Anglo-Catholic movement grew across the Anglican Church of Australia in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, St John’s embraced this tradition of beauty, reverence, and sacramental depth.
For generations, the parish:
- maintained a strong liturgical and Eucharist-centred life
- supported choirs, servers, and altar guilds
- nurtured children and families through GFS, MU, and youth ministry
- offered pastoral care throughout the neighbourhood
This tradition continues today: prayerful, beautiful, and centred on Christ.
A Community Shaped by Service
The parish has long been supported by the generous ministry of lay people:
- the Mothers’ Union
- the Op Shop volunteers
- parish councils and wardens
- servers, readers, intercessors, and musicians
- those who quietly offered acts of kindness and service
Together they built the parish community we know today.
Moments of Joy and Moments of Challenge
Over more than 150 years, the parish has known:
- celebrations and sorrows
- baptisms and funerals
- seasons of growth and seasons of difficulty
- ordinary Sundays and extraordinary feast days
Through every season, St John’s has remained faithful in gathering for worship, praying for the world, caring for neighbours, and offering a place of belonging.
This steadfast continuity is one of our greatest strengths.
Looking to the Future
As St John’s enters its next chapter, we continue to honour the past while embracing new opportunities for mission and ministry.
We look ahead with:
- gratitude for the faithfulness of those before us
- commitment to serve Christ in the present
- hope for what God is doing in Soldiers Hill and Ballarat
St John’s remains what it has always been — a humble, faithful community seeking to follow Christ in worship and service.e.
Anglican Men’s Society (AMS)
A fellowship of faith and service that shaped parish life for decades.
Anglican Women’s Guild
A powerhouse of hospitality, fundraising, and parish care in its time.
Mothers’ Union
An organisation with a long history of
supporting families, prayer, and fellowship.
Girls Friendly Society (GFS) – Townsend Group
Generations of girls formed in
friendship, faith, and service.
Ghost Stories of St John’s
Local folklore and curious tales from
more than a century of parish life.
The Memorial Gardens
A place of prayer, remembrance, and peace.
The Lych Gate
A historic symbol of welcome and rest,
marking the threshold of sacred space.
Our PNG Connection
A meaningful relationship linking St John’s
to our Pacific neighbours.
St John’s Place – The Must Homes
How the parish’s land and buildings
continue to serve community needs.
“We thank you, O Lord, for all your servants
who have worshipped in this place.”
May all who enter St John’s today find the same welcome, prayer, and peace that have sustained generations before us.