ST JOHN’S Anglican Church in Fremantle will celebrate its 175th birthday next Saturday (August 4) with a special service.

“There will be a uniquely Anglican service, similar to the first service in the first building… one of the hymns is the same,” said recently-appointed reverend Patrick King.

The original church was built in 1843 in Kings Square, but by 1875 it was too small to accommodate the burgeoning congregation and a bigger house of worship, the existing St John’s, was constructed just a few metres away.

• Rev Patrick King on the spot the original St John’s was built, with a corner of the existing church in the background.

Rev King said when the first church was built “it was a great occasion, where all the city came together.

“I’ve only been here a year, but for 175 years this Anglican building has been serving the community of Fremantle.”

• St John’s Anglican Church. Photos by Sofia Paul

Mr King said everyone was welcome to come to the special birthday service and he hoped it would bring the community closer together.

“Fremantle is such a vibrant, diverse, exciting community and the church is not just for worshipping – it’s a community space,” he said.

“Growing up I came from a church family…I drifted away from that but came back to it after university. I had a calling.”

by SOFIA PAUL