Sung Liturgy & Music

Music is at the heart of our worship at St John’s.
In the Anglican tradition, music is not an addition to the liturgy — it is the liturgy’s voice.
It helps us offer our praise, lifts our hearts in prayer, and draws our community together in worship.

Whether through a well-loved hymn, a simple chant, or the quiet beauty of an organ prelude, music shapes our encounter with God.

Why We Sing

Singing helps us:

praise God with joy and reverence
listen deeply to Scripture
participate fully in the Eucharist
experience the beauty of holiness
pray together as one body

Even if you feel unsure about singing, you are invited — and encouraged — to join in.
Our worship is a shared offering to God.

Hymns and Chant

At the 9.30 am Sung Eucharist, we draw on rich Anglican hymnody, often from:

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New
Together in Song
A Hymn Book for Australian Use
The English Hymnal / New English Hymnal

We also use simple chant for parts of the Eucharist, allowing the congregation to sing the liturgy with confidence and grace.

Feast Days & Seasons

On major feasts and during seasons such as Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, music plays a special role in helping us enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s life.

Advent: quiet, expectant
Christmas: joyful and full of light

Lent: reflective, prayerful
Easter: triumphant, hopeful

Music gives voice to the changing seasons of the Christian year.

The Organ

The pipe organ at St John’s is one of the parish’s most significant historical treasures and continues to be central to our worshipping life. Installed in 1891, it has accompanied generations of parishioners in prayer, praise, and sacrament.

A Significant Instrument in a Significant Church

When the church was expanded in 1884, architect Leonard Terry’s firm Terry & Oakden added the southern side aisle and organ chamber specifically to house a pipe organ of quality.
Just a few years later, Fincham & Hobday — one of Australia’s most respected organ-building firms — constructed the instrument for £728, and it was formally opened on 13 September 1891.

The organ is noteworthy for its double cases:

a large case facing down the south aisle
a smaller case above the console facing across the chancel

This distinctive arrangement makes the instrument visually as well as musically striking.

Craftsmanship and Original Features

Much of the original character of the 1891 organ survives:

The gilded façade pipes retain what appears to be their original finish, similar to Fincham & Hobday’s work at the Presbyterian Church, Hawthorn.
The console is crafted from Tasmanian blackwood, showcasing fine local craftsmanship.
Most of the original pipework remains intact.

Two significant changes have been made:

1924 — The original Swell Mixture was replaced with a Harmonic Flute, in keeping with evolving musical taste at the time.
1972 — After severe water damage, the stop and pedal actions were electrified by Leighton Turner to preserve the instrument and ensure reliability.

Otherwise, the organ remains remarkably unaltered — a rare example of late-Victorian Australian organ building preserved in worshipping use.

How the Organ Serves Our Worship

This two-manual pipe organ fills St John’s with a warm, clear, and dignified sound that suits the timber-lined interior and the acoustic of the nave.

It supports our liturgy through:

confident, steady congregational hymn singing
gentle, prayerful accompaniment for psalms, chants, and quieter liturgical moments
festive, full-voiced music on major feasts
preludes and postludes that create space for reflection and prayer

Its voice has shaped the spiritual memory of the parish for well over a century, and continues to do so every Sunday.

A Living Piece of Heritage

The organ is not simply an artefact of the past — it is a living instrument, maintained with care, played regularly, and loved by the parish.
It stands as a symbol of the beauty, continuity, and depth of Anglican worship at St John’s.

Learn More

Further historical and technical information about the organ at St John’s can be found at the
👉 Organ Historical Trust of Australia (OHTA): https://www.ohta.org.au/organs/organs/BallaratStJohns.html

Would You Like to Get Involved?

If you enjoy singing or playing music, we’d love to hear from you.
We welcome people who wish to contribute to the musical life of the parish.

👉 Contact the Parish Priest

“Sing to the Lord a new song.”
Psalm 96

May our music always open our hearts to God’s presence and lead us deeper into His love.