A church that has modelled sharing the gospel to the community through social care celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special service last Sunday.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen who spoke at the service congratulated the parish East Sydney on 150 years of ministry at St John’s, Darlinghurst.

Archbishop Jensen preached on the words of Psalm 118:22, "The stone which the builders rejected…" which is the same text that Bishop Frederic Barker preached on at the opening of the church on Easter Day, April 4, 1858.

Archbishop Jensen says the Darlinghurst Rd congregation “has been faced with many challenges over the years and there are more to come.”

“But Christians are used to change. Those who follow Jesus know the difference he can make in the lives of people," Archbishop Jensen said.

"The history of St John’s is testimony to the power of the good news of Jesus to change lives.”

Change is something St John's is well aware of as the church has adapted to Darlinghurst's ever-changing social landscape.

In the 1850s, Darlinghurst consisted of up market houses on the side of the Woolloomooloo valley from the city.

In the first half of the 20th century Darlinghurst underwent dramatic change as East Sydney emerged as a densely populated region, known first as a bohemian centre and later as a notorious red light district.

Throughout these changes, the ministry of St John’s has stayed well-known in the area, according to the rector of the church, the Rev Hugh Cox (pictured right).

“The nature of East Sydney is still changing and the challenge for our congregation is to present the good news of Jesus to everyone in the area, rich and poor, young and old," he says.

“It’s encouraging to see the congregation reaching out through our long-standing ministries such as "Rough Edges' and newer programs such as "Junior Jivers', which caters for pre-schoolers and their carers.”

In more recent times, St John's has earned a global reputation as being an advocate for social justice.

Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was converted and baptised as a Christian at St John's in the 1980s.

Retired Sydney Anglican minister, the Rev Canon Bruce Ballantine-Jones (pictured left), who was a member of St John's shortly after becoming a Christian, was also present at the anniversary service.

The celebrations also included the re-launch of Paul Egan’s enlarged and updated history of St John’s, Serving the Cross, and the publication of over 70 stories on the theme ‘What St John’s meant to me,’ which were distributed in a 16-page book.