Today, the Rev Dr Paul Dale became curate-in-charge of St John's, Kirribilli, which houses Church by the Bridge (CBTB).
But how did a Brit come to lead of one of the fastest growing church plants in Sydney?
After coming to Moore College on exchange in 1999, Paul returned to London to minister at St Luke's, Hampstead. He then came back to Sydney in 2002 to work as an assistant minister at St Thomas' North Sydney.
"I was overseeing the 7pm congregation at St Thomas', a large congregation of many godly people eager to serve," he says
"After doing some research, my heart was heavy to find that there was no "English speaking' evening congregation in the Kirribilli, McMahons Point and Waverton areas."
With many St Thomas' members travelling to church from those areas, Paul felt a responsibility to take the gospel back there with these people.
"The Rev Ernest Chau [then curate-in-charge of St John's] was very gracious in allowing us to rent their building in Kirribilli for Sunday evening," Paul says.
A planning team of 10 people met for six months prior to the launch of CBTB in 2005, to think through mission, vision, key ministry areas and publicity strategy.
"We encouraged some people to stay at St Thomas', in order not to deplete the existing congregation of key leaders, whilst encouraging others to plant with us," Paul says.
The church started with 42 people, over half of whom were not from St Thomas'. In the first two months, Paul says God humbled him through personal trials "in painful ways'. There were weeks when he didn't feel able to preach.
"Yet in God's kindness he strengthened and equipped me. A weak preacher was used mightily to grow God's kingdom. Any "success' in planting is not down to strategies or even personalities " but the word of God going out with faithfulness and power," Paul says.
"God was very kind to us in bringing a number of Christians who had just moved into Kirribilli during the first few months, so CBTB quickly grew to an average attendance of 70 people."
The church leafleted regularly, held a stall at the local markets, met in a local café after church and "hung out' in Kirribilli to build relationships.
Many local unchurched people came along. The church particularly connected with 25-39s, who had some church experience but hadn't attended for years.
By the end of the first year, the church building, which holds 140 people, was almost full. People were literally sitting on tables, or standing in the doorway.
"The decision was made to run a "duplicate' service, with the same sermon, same music and so on. The 6pm shifted back to 6:30pm and we started a 5pm service in May 2006," Paul says.
Paul says to target the demographic of Kirribilli " young professionals " the publicity had to be professional.
"We used "marketing' techniques to get ourselves noticed. Coffee before church, in the area outside church, was also key " because people saw a crowd of people and often stopped to find out what was happening," he says.
"The other thing we did well was being clear on our aims. We wanted a Christ-centred church that was real and relevant " so we worked hard on relationships, sharing our lives and spending time together."
The music has also been an important aspect of the church service.
"We deliberately chose to have a "drum and bass'-driven band " string and woodwind instruments are banned " in order for Bible-based, contemporary songs to be played well," Paul says.
"The reality is that lots of passers by walk into church during a service because they hear the music " and then they hear the word."
Visit Church by the Bridge website.
