About Us

Vision & Values

Our roots in Darlinghurst go back to 1849. But our true origins run much deeper than that. After his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ established the church to embody his presence to the world. As a community whose life revolves around God’s word and the sacraments, we are, for all our faults, a concrete manifestation of the presence of Christ.

We love being in inner-city Sydney, a place that is densely packed with a diverse and creative group of human beings, all of whom are made in the image of God. Just as Jesus said that he did not come to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved (cf. John 3:17), our overarching goal is to seek the flourishing of inner-city Sydney through our loving and faithful presence. 

We believe that the truth is available to all of us—it has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Because this truth is divine, transcendent, and personal, none of us ever fully possesses it within ourselves. It is something we seek continually by submitting ourselves to the Bible, by listening carefully to church tradition, and by use of the faculty of reason. 

As an Anglican church, our commitment to seeking the truth is embodied in our confession of the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, and our subscription to the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Anglican Church. 
Our church does not exist for its own sake, but rather to embody God’s love for the world in tangible ways. For this reason, we are committed to doing good deeds in our local community. Our church is an institution in Darlinghurst that blesses our neighbourhood in Jesus’ name through an evolving set of social services. We also place a high emphasis on equipping our members to do their daily work in a way which brings flourishing for all people.

We invite everyone to explore involvement in the ongoing work of Rough Edges, a drop-in centre for people experiencing homelessness as well as Banksia Women, a service geared toward those who have experienced domestic violence.
The culture of Darlinghurst and the surrounding area is chock-full of creativity and artistry, ranging from the Bohemian to the fine arts. We believe this points to God’s calling to be culture-makers who respond to the beauty of creation with both awe and skill. As such, we are a community that celebrates artists and their work, and that seeks to empower all people in their calling to be creative. 

Please get in touch if you are interested in being part of our growing community of artists. 

St John’s is a church community… Our roots in Darlinghurst go back to 1849. But our true origins run much deeper than that. After his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ established the church to embody his presence to the world. As a community whose life revolves around God’s word and the sacraments, we are, for all our faults, a concrete manifestation of the presence of Christ.

Our History

St John’s began in the 1840s when a new parish church was created to serve the area. Long a popular area with the traditional custodians of the Eora Nation, Darlinghurst was quickly becoming the most fashionable residential area for the well-to-do of Sydney. 

Sparing almost no cost, the great architect Edmund Blacket was employed to design the new church in the neo-Gothic style for which he became famous. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries St John’s was the spiritual home for the families who lived nearby on large estates. Their legacy is reflected today in the many memorial plaques and stained-glass windows in our state heritage-listed building.

The area around Darlinghurst changed dramatically around the time of the Second World War. The nearby Garden Island Naval Base brought thousands of Australian and American soldiers and sailors (and their vices) giving the area a cosmopolitan and edgy character. In addition, its proximity to the city made it home to a growing number of working-class residents who crammed into newly created apartment blocks and terrace homes. 
It quickly became one of the densest, most controversial areas in Sydney—a “red light district” replete with crime, corrupt police, prostitution, drugs, and violence. It also became an enclave for those seeking to escape the mores and strictures of traditional society. 

In the 21st century Darlinghurst has undergone yet more significant shifts. While retaining much of its edgy and alternative character, it has also seen an influx of young professionals, families, and retirees, all of whom are attracted by its proximity to the CBD, the Harbour, and the nearby beaches. 

Today the area contains a vibrant mix of ages, socioeconomic conditions, and ideologies. It is a truly unique cultural hub located in the heart of Sydney—a community abuzz with all the hopes and heartbreaks of life in the city.

St John’s has always attempted to manifest the love of Christ in tangible ways to a complex and ever-evolving area. In the 1970s the motor-bike riding rector started “Johnny’s Club”, a large and successful outreach to local youth. In the 1980s and 1990s the church was deeply engaged in ministering to those who were affected by the AIDS pandemic. 

In recent decades the parish has developed a robust set of social services like the “Rough Edges” drop-in centre for those experiencing homelessness and the “Banksia Women” service for women who have been affected by domestic violence. Most recently it entered into a longterm partnership with Hammondcare to build an aged care home onsite to provide comfort and dignity to the most vulnerable elderly people in the city.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge that St John’s Darlinghurst is located on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. We have been privileged to gather here continuously since 1849, but its traditional custodians have belonged to this land from time immemorial. As we worship the God who made all people in his image we acknowledge and pay our respects to those whom God entrusted with the stewardship of this place, and especially to their elders—past, present, and emerging.

We recognise the impact that colonisation has had upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a church we acknowledge with sorrow that, at different points throughout Australian history, those bearing the name of Christ were involved in dispossession, theft, injustice, the removal of Indigenous children from their families, and other sinful acts. These things grieve God, and they never should have happened. We are truly sorry, and we pray that God would empower us in the pursuit of justice for, and reconciliation with, Indigenous peoples.