About the Church Building
The church is an early and major work in the lofty modern gothic style of renowned church architect Louis Williams. The present church was built in 1925.
Large and colorful windows are a prominent feature of the interior, with some fine examples from the former Church of St Anselm, Middle Park, which were incorporated into St. Silas' when the Parishes were amalgamated in 2001.
St. Silas' provides a bright, elegant and inspiring setting for worship and for special services such as baptisms and weddings, and is an ideal venue for concerts and recitals, which are a major focus of Parish and community life in Albert Park.
A Brief History of St Silas' and St Anselm's Churches
St Silas Anglican Church has served the Albert Park area since 1879. Initially it was an offshoot of St Luke’s Emerald Hill. The first services in Albert Park were held in the Albert Hall, Bevan Street, then for 50 years in a wooden church building on the site of the present service station. That church was enlarged in stages as needed to seat 700. The present building was constructed by architect Louis Williams in 1925, and the earlier church became the hall.
The present much-used church hall was incorporated into the lower part of the church building in 1961, by converting the church into a two storeyed multi-purpose building. The sanctuary on the new level was subsequently re-ordered to enhance its contemporary liturgical use. The lower level is now used mainly for educational purposes by a school for autistic adults and a ballet school. A lift to service the upper level was added in 2011.
St. Silas' Church before the addition of the lift in 2011
St Anselm’s Church began in a wooden building on the corner of Langridge Street and Park Road Middle Park. In 1891, the Parish was formed by cutting the area from Harold Street to Fraser Street Middle Park from St Silas’ Parish. A brick church on the site was completed in 1919.
In 2001 the Diocese decided to close St Anselm’s Church and amalgamate the two Parishes. Many fine artefacts from St Anselm’s including stained glass windows were incorporated into St Silas’ Church, and the combined Parish became known as the “Anglican Parish of St Silas and St Anselm”, popularly known as the "Anglican Parish of the Parks".
We would be pleased to supply further historical information on the churches of St Silas and St Anselm upon request.
St. Anselm's Church, Park St. Middle Park, now residences
Who were St Silas and St Anslem ?
St Silas
St Silas (pronounced Cy-lass) was a prominent early Christian disciple.
He was St Paul’s companion on his first visit to Macedonia.He is sometimes referred to as Silvanus in the Epistles (see I and II Thessalonians, and 1 Peter 5:12).
He died in Macedonia. His feast day is 13 July.
St Anselm was born in Aosta, Italy, in 1033 and at age 15 became a monk, but this was disallowed by his father. Eventually, however, he joined the monastery of Bec in Normandy and in time became its Prior and Abbott.
He visited England to inspect other monasteries and there he made quite an impression. Anselm succeeded his old mentor (Lanfranc) as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1092.
St Anselm was a leading theologian of his time and is remembered for his writings and the encouragement he gave to those who used their intelligence in the service of religion. His feast day is 21 April.