"Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" 1John 5:5

An important part of the Engadine Parish is the Christ Church at Heathcote - believed to be the first Anglican Church established in the Sutherland Shire. On 12 November 1893 the inaugural service was held in Heathcote's brand new weatherboard church which was located on Illawarra Road (also the then bank of Bottle Creek between Willandra Parade and Blackett Street).

The first Rector of Heathcote Church was Rev. Joseph L. Bosworth who served there from 1893 until 1896. A full list of the various Rectors who served at Heathcote can be found in the book compiled by parishioners Jan Perry and Beverley Irving - Christ Church Anglican Church Heathcote 1893 - 1993.

At various times during its history Heathcote Church was part of the Provisional District of Helensburgh, Sutherland Parish, the Provisional District of Engadine, the Provisional Parish of Engadine and finally it was incorporated into the current St George's Anglican Parish in 1974.

The old church was demolished in 1929 and a new one built on donated land in 1930 on the present site, on the corner Rosebery and Oliver Streets Heathcote.

During 2006 the historic church underwent a major facelift to allow it to seat more comfortably a growing congregation. With the major building works out of the way the local congregation put the final touches to the $100,000 upgrade and services recommenced on 21st May 2006.

Today, the church, which also houses the Heathcote Before and After School Service in an attached hall, accommodates 150 people.

Prior to the building of the Engadine Church residents worshipped in either the Engadine Literary Institute, which was located at the top of the Old Princes Highway near the huge water tank, or the home of the McAllisters. The first service was held at the Institute on 18 March 1934. Money was raised to build a church and the work, which was built free of labour costs, was finished in 1935. The sandstone commemorative plaque, which is now very weathered and located in the front wall of the present building, was unveiled on 2 November 1935 by the Venerable Archdeacon, H.S. Begbie.

The original church was situated where the basketball court and grassed areas are located in the current church premises on the corner of Waratah and Cambrai Avenues Engadine. Ministers of the church, when it was a branch of St John's Sutherland, included Reverends Marshall, Simmons, Gelding, Smith, Gerber, Richards and Watts. The Church operated as a branch under St John's between 1933 and 1958.

The original wooden church, then known as St. George's Church of England Engadine, was a building about 25 or 30 feet wide and 80 feet long and had a small vestry off to the side. The first bride in the wooden church was Mrs. F. Schmidt (nee Howe). During 1966 a new hall was constructed next to the church, thanks to fundraising by The Ladies Guild.

During 1973, the old wooden church was demolished and a new one rebuilt on the same, but much larger site. The basketball court, added to the Church in 1979, was named after the builder of the court - Ben Williams. The St. George's Engadine Anglican Church served the local community effectively for decades until overcrowding became an issue in the early 2000s. This was acknowledged as a welcome problem as it showed a growing congregation keen to meet and worship God.

The majority of the church was bulldozed in 2005 and a massive reconstruction programme began as church services moved across the road into the hall at Engadine Primary School. This generous decision by the school in fact returned a favour after the school had decades earlier used the old wooden church as a classroom when overcrowding occurred. The enlarged new church was reopened on 10 September 2006 on its present site. Interestingly, the Church Hall, built in 1966, was retained in the 1973 church structure and still forms the rear section of the church today. Across four services around 650 people today make up the Christ-centred congregation.

Rectors in the Engadine Parish

Provisional District of St. George's, Engadine.

1958 -1962 Rev. Thomas Butler
1962 -1963 Rev. Alan Laing
1964 -1966 Rev. Fred Buchanan

Provisional Parish of Engadine (from 31st October, 1966.)

1966-1967 Rev F Buchanan
1967-1973 Rev. Grahame Hynard

St. George's Anglican Parish

1974-1985 Rev. Grahame Hynard
1985 Rev. Norman Gelding (Acting Rector)
1985 Rev. James Hall (Acting Rector)
1985-1993 Rev. Jack Normand
1993 Rev. Harry Birch (Acting Rector)
1993-1999 Rev. Brian Kelly
1999 Rev. Mark Charleston (Acting Rector)
1999-2005 Rev. Jim Ramsay
2005- Rev. Rick Lewers

References:
- Christ Church Anglican Church Heathcote 'A Little Wooden Church In The Bush' 1893 - 1993. Compiled by Jan Perry and Beverley Irving.

- St George's Church of England Engadine. Combined Funds Canvass 1957.

- Vision - official journal of the Church of England in Australia in the Provisional Parish of St George's Engadine, with Heathcote, Helensburgh, Stanwell park, Waterfall and Otford. February- March 1973 Vol 9 No. 9. Special issue commemorationg the Dedication of the New Parish Church and Fellowship Centre of St George's, Engadine.

- Engadine, NSW - An Outline History by J. E. Thompson 1956. Reprinted 1991.

- Interviews with parishioners Joyce Lundberg and Jean and Barry Cannings.

Phone: 9548 2296
Email:eac@eac.org.au
PO Box 29, Engadine 2233.

©Heathcote Engadine Anglican Church