About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to continue what Jesus started - to work for love and justice by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The classic mission of the Christian Church is to strive to fulfil the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples prior to his Ascension.
Jesus told his disciples to preach the Gospel to all the world; to make disciples of all nations; to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; and to teach people to obey all that he had commanded (see Mark 16.14-18; Matthew 28.16-20; Luke 24.44-49; Acts 1.4-8).
While this remains very much a part of what we aim to do and who we aim to be, we also recognise that it isn't enough to merely preach the Good News - we have to be good news. The good news which Jesus preached during his ministry wasn't that the "good" go to "heaven"; Jesus rather preached the Kingdom of God was at hand - that the time of God's just and righteous rule had arrived. Christians believe that Jesus' ministry inaugurated God's kingdom, but that it has not yet arrived in its fullness.
Meet our Priest
The Revd. Fr. Martin Nadarajan
Fr Martin became our 22nd priest serving the Anglican Parish of Ararat, Willaura and Great Western on 17th March 2022. He is a Malaysian-Indian by birth and speaks four different languages. He arrived in Australia in 2006 on an international work assignment. After a successful stint in Australia, He decided to stay in Australia and eventually became a citizen. He thrived in various customer service, sales, analytical and contact centre management roles for over 25 years working with different international companies like DHL Worldwide, Drake International and Mercer Super Trust until he responded to God's call to be an ordained minister in 2013.
On top of his formal qualifications in Public Relations and Financial Services, Fr. Martin obtained his theological degree from University of Divinity (Trinity College Theological School), Melbourne. He was ordained as a deacon in 2017 and began his ministry as a non-stipendiary Assistant Curate at Christ the King Cathedral, Ballarat and Holy Trinity, Sebastopol. After his ordination to priesthood in 2019, he continued in the same role on a full-time basis from 2020, right at the start of the COVID19 pandemic.
Fr Martin is an ardent believer in working in the mission field of God in a collaborative manner. He is passionate about liturgy, music, young adult ministry and evangelism. He envisaged that his ministry in Ararat will include :
• New participation in the active life of the Church – DOING
• New ways to have a sense of belonging to the community of faith - BELONGING
• New understanding and deepening of faith – BELIEVING
Besides host of relatives and friends in Malaysia, he has two sisters, Suji Abrahams and Rani Agilan, both married with three children respectively.
Clergy who ministered in the Parish of Holy Trinity Ararat
NAME DATES
Rev. Martin Nadarajan 2022-Present
Rev. Dr Tim Gaden 2013-2017
Rev. Robert Canaervon-Smith 2010-2013
Rev. Canon John R Mathes 2005-2009
Rev. Terence Francis Gross 2002-2005
Rev. Canon George A Parker 1996-2002
Rev. Canon Andrew D.I. Neaum 1989-1995
Rev. Canon Percival L.N. Rowlands 1985-1989
Rev. Ian N Herring 1978-1985
Rev. John C Thompson 1974-1978
Rev. Roger F Swetenham 1971-1974
Rev. K. Malcolm Lindsay 1967-1971
Rev. T.H. (Jim) Cranswick 1959-1967
Rev. Canon Ernst S Yeo 1951-1959
Rev. Lindsay M Howell 1946-1951
Rev. Canon Bertram Hocking Dewhurst 1932-1946
Rev. George Eric Menlove 1925-1932
Rev. Harry E. Noltenius, B.A 1913-1925
Rev. Sidney A. Beveridge 1908-1913
Rev. Canon E. H. Davies 1899-1908
Rev. Canon Samuel McGeorge 1889-1899
Rev. Canon Philip Homan, M.A. 1856-1889
Associate Clergy
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The Revd. Cheryl Haines
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The Revd. Deacon Adriaan Siersema
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The Revd. Robert Caernarvon-Smith
Parish Wardens
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Chris Wells
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Rick Thomas
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Lois Reynolds
Our History
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In October 1857, there were meetings in Ararat to work towards having a resident clergyman and school building (which could also be used for public worship.) By mid October 1857 saw the arrival of Rev'd Philip Homan as the resident clergyman to Ararat and district.
In September 1863 the Rev'd Homan wrote to the Diocesan Architect to furnish plans for a Church capable of seating 300 people and costing about 2500 with chancel and tower or 1500 without chancel and tower. It was established in 1864, designed by architect James Fox, and a builder known as Mr Blackstone. The design features four bays, a vestry located on the south side, a polygonal apse that acts as the chancel, and an aisle.
The foundation stone was laid in November 1863 by Archdeacon Braim of Portland but it was not until 21st October 1866 that the Church was opened and dedicated by the Venerable Theodore Stretch, Archdeacon of Geelong. The Church was finally consecrated on the 16th April 1882 by the Right Rev'd James Moorhouse, Bishop of Melbourne acting for the Bishop of Ballarat (Samuel Thornton) who was absent.
The foundation stone for a new Sunday School was laid. The building cost 570. The building was opened by the Ven Archdeacon Arthur Green on April 29th 1891.
In January 1940 Holy Trinity Church was gutted by fire and within half a hour the roof collapsed and the building was ruined. After years of planning the plans for the Narthex were completed in 1984. The narthex was built and blessed by Bishop John Hazlewood on 14th July 1985.
Organ:
In 1951 there was a pipe organ with choir stalls. It was eventually sold, and an electric organ took its place. In April 1961 a new electric organ (Wurlitzer organ and amplifier) was installed. This organ broke down in November 1979. In 1993 it was decided to buy a pipe organ from Goodwood Uniting Church, Adelaide for $10,000. The pipe organ was built by George Fincham and Sons in 1960 and was installed the following year.
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Coming Soon…
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Coming Soon…
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ALL SAINTS, WILLAURA
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HOLY TRINITY, ARARAT
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CHRIST CHURCH, GREAT WESTERN
“Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”