by Madeleine Collins

This December the congregations from Bexley and Bexley North Provisional Parish will combine their services for the first time with St James’, Carlton. The amalgamation of the two churches is a historic moment, but it is even more so for those present who will hear echoes of an almost forgotten event that changed the course of the region almost 100 years ago.

In 1908, Christ Church, Bexley held an open-air service in the grounds of Carlton Public School, the current site of St James’ largest congregation, with the idea of planting a church in the new suburb. Two years later, it was a success. For the next 21 years, the young congregation of St James’ fell under the leadership of Bexley, until they grew large enough to become a parish in their own right.

Now as both churches approach 2004, the pioneering efforts of those early church planters have come full circle with the merger of Bexley North and Bexley into the fold of St James’. The Rev Zac Veron of St James’ likens it to a role reversal, when an adult takes on a caring role for their elderly parents. “St James’ is the daughter church of Bexley. Now the daughter church is going to look after its elderly mother,” he said.

However, the merger has not been without its difficulties. Following the resignation of Bexley’s rector, the Rev Stephen Miller, to take up a new post as rector of the parish of Chester Hill, the church has struggled to fund a full-time minister and has had serious financial pressures. Following discussions with Bishop Peter Tasker, both parish councils unanimously agreed that the best option was a merger with Carlton.

“Amalgamations are rarely smooth,” Mr Veron admits. But now those involved are praying for unity and growth. Mr Veron says Bexley’s church members will benefit from a fuller parish program. “We’re giving them the opportunity to have kids running between their feet again.” The merger comes at the halfway point in St James’ ‘Vision 2010’ to see 1500 adults and children in Bible-based congregations within ten years. “The amalgamation gives us the opportunity to fast-track that,” Mr Veron said.