Christ Church Inner West Anglican Community

Christ Church Inner West Anglican Community is a multi-site Anglican church organization located in Sydney's Inner West region, Australia. It comprises the historic Anglican parishes of St John The Baptist's Ashfield, St Alban's Five Dock, and St Oswald's Haberfield, alongside St Bede's Drummoyne and Mathetes Church. The community is part of the Diocese of Sydney and holds regular worship services and various community programs across its four main locations[1][2][5].

History and Background

Church communities have been established at these sites for over a century, with St John's Ashfield founded in 1840, St Alban's Five Dock in 1859, and St Oswald's Haberfield in 1908. Christ Church Inner West draws on these rich historical roots to serve the spiritual and communal needs of the Inner West area[2].

Mission and Beliefs

Christ Church Inner West adheres to the historic doctrinal foundations of the Anglican Church, including the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, along with the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and the Book of Common Prayer. The community aims to nurture fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who know, love, and serve God, his church, and the wider world through the power of the Holy Spirit. The church focuses its community life around five "rhythms of grace"—patterns of life through which God works to shape believers into the likeness of Christ[2].

Congregations and Services

The church holds worship services on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. across all its sites, with additional services such as an evening service at Mathetes Church. It operates as one church with multiple sites, fostering community across Ashfield, Drummoyne, Five Dock, and Haberfield. The church also runs special events and community programs aimed at engaging and supporting residents in these localities[1][3].

Clergy

The leadership team includes clergy appointed to various roles since 2022 and 2023. Key figures include The Reverend Dr Andrew Paul Katay (Rector), The Reverend Simon Elliott (Senior Assistant Minister), and assistant ministers The Reverend Angus Edward Courtney, The Reverend Richard Roland Glover, and The Reverend Matthew Paul Moffitt. These leaders provide pastoral care, spiritual guidance, and oversee the church's ministries[5].

Charitable Status

Christ Church Inner West Anglican Community operates as a registered nonprofit organization with the Australian Business Number (ABN) 77628949937RR0001. Its charitable purpose includes advancing religion by conducting Anglican worship services, supporting Christian mission, and facilitating small group ministries within the community[4].

Community Focus

The community emphasizes hope, grace, and engagement with cultural issues from a Christian perspective. It seeks to be a light in the Inner West through teaching, worship, and community outreach, fostering spiritual growth and social connection for its members and the wider public[1][2].

This article synthesizes information from Christ Church Inner West's official communications, charity records, and Anglican church directories to provide an overview consistent with encyclopedia standards.

[1] https://www.cciw.church [2] https://www.cciw.church/about [3] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0heKNDrqwAlyK8NWWvgd7A [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/2363740c-2caf-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60/profile [5] https://www.anglicandirectoryaustralia.com.au/parish/parish-of-christ-church-inner-west-nsw-10072/