St Paul's ChurchBurwood, Sydney
A warm welcome
Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we would be delighted to welcome you as a parishioner or have you join us at one of our regular services or parish activities.
Acknowledgement of Country:
We acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional owners of the land on which we meet – (the Wangal people of the Eora Nation).
"Luck brushes some people unnoticed. Dozens of Governors and their ladies laid the foundation stones of scores of mediocre Australian churches, but it fell to the lot of the Countess of Belmore to lay the foundation stones of the two churches which can be considered the best buildings of Blacket's very best period. We saw that she laid the foundation stone of St Stephen Newtown in November 1871. This was only four months after she laid the stone of St Paul Burwood, …, for St Paul Burwood is the work of Blacket at his best period, …
The church is small, not particularly ornate, but the disposition of the parts, the proportions and scale are nearly perfect. The details are of the finest craftsmanship …" (The Blackets: An Era of Australian Architecture, Morton Herman, 1963. p.138)
The Heart and Soul of the Inner West
St Paul's is the Heart and Soul of the Inner West. Our ministries are inclusive and welcoming, as we seek to share God's love with others. The five hallmarks of our parish are:
→ worship of God
→ love and care of our neighbours
→ new ministries such as the establishment of a Play Group, a Children's Church and Young Adults Group
→ care for our buildings
→ generosity
What's On
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Ministry Team
Rector
TC Dip Teach, Grad Dip RE, Grad Dip RE Stud, BEd, BTheol, CPE RPH, Post Grad Dip Arts(Rel Stud), MA(Rel Stud), PhD
Father James was born and raised in rural Western Australia. He obtained a degree in education from the WA College of Advanced Education and taught music at both primary and secondary school levels. In 1984 he began to study theology at Perth Theological Hall and later at Murdoch University. He was ordained in 1987. He holds a PhD from the University of Tasmania. Father James' interests outside ministry include reading, bush walking and music.
After ordination in 1987, James worked full-time in ministry, having parishes in Western Australia and, since 2001, in Tasmania. He has also had a university chaplaincy position. Prior to his induction as Rector of St Paul's on 9 February 2011, Fr James was Rector of the Parish of Moonah in Hobart where he had responsibility for two churches, St Mary's and St Anne's. In addition, Fr James was an Enabler in the parishes of New Norfolk, Break O'Day, Channel/Cygnet, Hamilton and Brighton. This role involved training parishioners to take responsibility for all aspects of parish life and to reach out to the local community with the Gospel message and with practical ministry.
Senior Assistant Priest
BD, BEd(Mus), FTCL, LRAM, ARCO,ARCM, DipAngOrd
Michael Deasey was ordained ten years ago for the diocese of Bathurst where he has been the Precentor and Associate Priest at All Saints' Cathedral, combining this role with Director of Music. Before ordination his career was in church music and music education and after extensive overseas experience in England and Canada became organist and master of choristers at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney for more than two decades. Apart from his music qualifications he has a bachelor of Divinity from the Melbourne College of Divinity and a Diploma in Anglican Orders from St Mark's Theological college, Canberra. In 2004 Michael was honoured in Salisbury Cathedral with the award of Associate of the Royal School of Church Music and a year later the Medal of the Order of Australia for Services to church music.
Michael is married to Antonia. They have three adult children spread across the world, and twin baby granddaughters.
Honorary Priest
MTC ThL(2 Cl Hons) Dip
Fr Jim has served faithfully in many parishes, including both rural and urban settings, and as well as assisting at St Paul's Fr Jim often helps in other parishes as a locum.
Lay Minister
Dip PE (Hons), B.A., M.Litt., B.D., CPE RNSH., Grad. Cert World Religions
Rosemary King is a retired high school teacher. Having trained as a Physical Education teacher Rosemary soon added History and Geography to her teaching subjects. Then after graduating from Melbourne College of Divinity with a Bachelor of Divinity she went on to teach Religion and Studies of Religion in both Catholic and Independent Schools. Alongside Studies of Religion she developed a passion for Service Learning.
With the three years spent at St John's Theological college in Morpeth and her teaching experiences she retired in 2013 to embrace the position of Lay Minister in the parish.
Student Minister
Dr Michael Sutton – Student Minister, PhD (Ec & Bus) Syd, B.Ec (Soc Sci) with First Class Hons., Syd.
Michael has worked and worshipped in Japan and the USA since 2000.
In 2013, after receiving a call to the ministry Michael was appointed as a Catechist to St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Revesby. In 2014 he commenced a Master of Divinity, (ACT) and is currently studying at Morling College. At the conclusion of his studies, Michael is prayerfully considering the path to Ordination in the Anglican Communion, combined with a writing ministry.
Michael's placement at St. Paul’s is for one day per week and encompasses participating in and leading worship, preaching, pastoral care, and ministering to the young adults in the Parish.
Director of Music
DSCM (Hons), L.Mus.A.
Sheryl Southwood has recemtly retired from the position of Director of Music, Trinity Grammar School Preparatory School Strathfield. She graduated as "Student of the Year" with First Class Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. A strong interest in choral music led to her involvement with the choirs of St James' Church, King Street, the Sydney University Graduate Choir, Christ Church St Laurence and St Paul's, Burwood. She has conducted the Sydney University Graduate Choir and been Acting Choirmaster of St James' King Street and the Cathedral Singers. Until recently, Sheryl was the director of the Mater Chorale.
Sheryl stands firm in the belief that liturgy is sustained and uplifted through music - choral, organ and other instrumental forces
Coordinator Playgroup
B.A., Dip Ed., T.C., FACE.
Judith was born in Newcastle NSW and trained as a mathematics teacher at Newcastle University before embarking on a career which saw her teaching mathematics, English and special education classes in both primary and secondary schools across the state and assuming senior leadership roles.
In retirement, Judith coordinates St Paul's Monday Playgroup and enjoys buying and arranging the flowers which beautify our church with the help of a small group of very dedicated parishioners. She is also a server at the 8am Sunday service. She enjoys creating the seasonal resource packs for our young people.
Sacristan
Graham Norman serves as Sacristan at St Paul's and has done so for many years. Our worship of God at St Paul's consists of classical Anglican liturgy of Word and Sacrament and Graham helps in many ways to ensure that our worship of God remains life-giving, meaningful, and beautiful.
One of the wonderful aspects of the worship of God at St Paul's is that people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome especially families and children and Graham oversees the many people who contribute to leading our worship.
Graham had a long career as an educator having held senior positions in New South Wales over a long and greatly appreciated career.
Graham serves with all of our Ministry Team to ensure that the two great commandments to love God and to love our neighbour are lived out in word and deed.
