St James' Church, Melbourne, c. 1902
Details
The Anglican Church in Australia dates back to the colonial settlement of New South Wales in 1788. The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne came into being in 1847. It was known officially (until 1981) as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania. Many institutions for children in Victoria had close links with the Church of England, including the Melbourne Orphan Asylum which had its roots in the St James Visiting Society, formed in 1845. From the late nineteenth century, the Church also set up a number of 'missions' which played a prominent role in the institutional 'care' of children in Victoria. In 1997, three of these organisations merged to form Anglicare Victoria.
The Anglican Church was Australia's most common denomination until Roman Catholicism took its place in 1986.
Many institutions for children in Victoria had close links with the Church of England, including the Melbourne Orphan Asylum which had its roots in the St James Visiting Society, formed in 1845. The first bishop of Melbourne Charles Perry was involved in many of Victoria's 'non denominational' institutions during his tenure (1848-1876).
Prepared by: Cate O'Neill
Created: 23 April 2009, Last modified: 14 May 2021
Last updated: 18 January 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/vic/biogs/E000234b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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