By BRIDGET COOK
ST JOHN’S Anglican Church is on song to celebrate its 150th birthday this year.
The Cranbourne church will mark the 150th anniversary since the foundation stone of the original church was laid, and a number of celebrations are planned to mark the milestone.
The church’s Vicar Reverend David Powys said the first of the celebrations will be a series of organ recitals.
“Three leading Melbourne organists have agreed to play on the church’s new digital organ,” he said.
“This instrument makes the new building sound as though it has pipes across a whole wall.”
Rev Powys said he hoped the community would join in the celebrations and it was a significant achievement for them.
“150 years is a long time in post-1788 Australian history, so St John’s is pleased to have got there,” he said.
“According to recent census data, Cranbourne has about 15,000 people who call themselves Anglican or Church of England.
“We’d love it if even a third of them joined in one of the events we are holding to mark our anniversary, starting with these recitals.”
Kieran Crichton will lead off of the first recital on Sunday 9 February at 2.30pm. He will play music by Giacomo Meyebeer, Otto Olsson, and Gabriel Pierné and Percy Grainger’s famous clog-dance and Handel in the Strand.
The second recital will be by Tom Healey – director of music at St Andrew’s Brighton – who will play works by Verdi, Brumby and Schumann. This will take place on Sunday 2 March.
The third recital will be on Sunday 4 May and will also feature piano and organ. The recitalist will be Lachlan Redd who is the assistant organist at St Paul’s Cathedral and internationally acclaimed concert pianist.
Mr Redd has performed with most of Australia’s symphony orchestras.
For more information about the celebrations, call 5995 9364 or visit www.sjac.com.au.
