Kirribilli's Chinese church has always been a "congregation on the go'. They moved to Kirribilli from St Andrew's Cathedral's Chapter House in 1983, when the Cathedral could no longer provide space for the congregation on weekdays.
"By God's grace St John's was most willing to take on the Chinese congregation," says former rector of Kirribilli and new rector of St Basil's, Artarmon, the Rev Ernest Chau.
Ernest says the move to Kirribilli over 20 years ago was strategic for the Chinese congregation as most members came from Sydney's northern suburbs.
However, after 24 years of happy partnership, including 13 years with Ernest as Kirribilli rector and Chinese congregation leader, evolving demographics mean Kirribilli is no longer the strategic centre for Chinese ministry.
As Church by the Bridge expanded at St John's, Kirribilli, opportunities opened up for Ernest's congregation to re-pot their service in a more strategic location.
"At last year's Northern Region conference, Bishop Glenn Davies and I had a chat over dinner. I was expressing that Kirribilli is no longer the ideal place for the Chinese congregation," he says.
"We needed to be closer to a visible Chinese community. The Bishop said to me rather surprisingly, "Ernest, would you and the Chinese congregation consider moving to Artarmon?'"
Following the retirement of Gerald Beckett, St Basil's, Artarmon had become a vacant parish. Ernest jumped at the opportunity to minister there and says Artarmon has a visibly Asian feel. In fact, he says the public primary school has an Asian intake of over 50 per cent.
"The neighbouring suburb, Chatswood, has become a sort of a Chinatown. I think we can do mission outreach through the opportunities given, such as the scripture class in the school, community services for the Chinese community and so on," Ernest says.
"We intend to outreach the families of the school community. We also hope to employ a suitable children's worker and, if possible, a youth worker to work among the Australian-born Chinese."
Ernest also has plans for reaching Artarmon's young urbanites.
"One of the ways forward for the local ministry is to restart a late afternoon Sunday service for the young adults living in Artarmon. We have quite a few ideas but I think we need the Holy Spirit to guide us to determine the priorities."
