top of page
ABOUT US

We are a community of people seeking to encourage our broader community to know the love that Jesus has shown to all people. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way to know God, and that through him our relationship with God is restored. We don’t claim to be a group of perfect people, but we seek be a church that loves and builds each other up to serve Christ Jesus and care for one another.

​

Our Friday morning 10:00am church service follows a traditional style, and our Sunday morning 9:00am service is more contemporary.

​

We also have a number of Bible study groups that meet throughout the week which we'd love you to be a part of.

​

Forbes Anglican Church is a parish of the Bathurst Anglican Diocese.

KIDS

Kids Church is available each week during the Sunday 9:00am contemporary service.

​

VillagePlay is our intergenerational playgroup that runs on Mondays at 9:30–11:30am during school terms.

​

We currently do not have a regular youth program during the week, however, we actively support the ministry of Northside Chapel: a primary-aged youth program that runs during the school term on Wednesday afternoons, 5-6pm.

leaves5_edited.png
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S
leaves5_edited.png

The first church was a small weatherboard structure built in 1861 on the northwest corner of the current church grounds. The land was given for this purpose by Josiah Strickland. Strickland also gave £500 to the future church-building fund. By 1870, the building was in such a state of disrepair that it was decided to organise fundraising functions so that a new church could be built. In 1874, tenders were called for the construction of the nave, designed by an architect named Benjamin Backhouse. The tender of Rodgerson and Co was eventually accepted. The new church was opened for service in 1877 at a cost of £2050.

 

The building is designed in Victorian Gothic style and was formed from locally quarried rusticated stone. In 1909, the chancel, vestries, and bell-tower, designed by local architect J. H. Bates, were added. Although the spire is incomplete, the squat tower is finished in a louvered, flat-topped belfry. The stained-glass windows were placed by Lyon, Cottier & Co. The roof was formerly clad with shingles, but in 1933 these were replaced with slate tiles.

 

Reymond’s flour mill in Flint Street was purchased in 1925 with the intention of building a parish hall with the stone, which matched that of the church. The cost of a stonemason was found to be prohibitive, so the flour mill was resold and the project was shelved. The parish hall was eventually built and opened in 1931. Comprehensive additions connecting the Parish Hall to the Church opened in 1969 and included a porch at the front of the hall, kitchen, kindergarten room, toilet blocks, rectors office, office, flower room and connecting porch.

IMG_6918_edited.jpg

Many distinguished ministers have served the Forbes Anglican community over the last 150 years; the most well known being, Padre A E White, the originator of the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Reverend White was inducted in Forbes is 1938. He remained in Forbes until his retirement in 1954.

 

The stained glass windows first fitted in All Soul’s Church, Wirrinya, in 1958 as a memorial to Canon A. E White were moved and installed in the covered porch at St John’s after the closure of the Wirrinya Church in 2004.

 

The window depicts soldiers from each of the services, a serving nurse, and Jesus serving over all.

bottom of page