St John the Evangelist Anglican Church was erected near the place where soldiers camped prior to the events of the Eureka Stockade in 1854. A decade later, as Ballarat continued to grow north of the railway line, a new Anglican presence was needed to serve the families who had settled on Soldiers Hill. On 15 March 1864, the foundation stone for St John’s was laid. Less than a year later, on 15 February 1865, the church was opened for worship — illuminated not by electricity, but by kerosene lamps. The sanctuary and chancel were added in 1870, giving St John’s the distinctive form the parish knows today. The church was consecrated in 1874. Among the early clergy, the Rev. R. J. Mercer holds a special place. Inducted in 1875, he served until 1892 and became one of the most respected priests of the newly formed Diocese of Ballarat. In 2026 the Memorial Hall was being used as an Opportunity Shop. "ST. JOHN'S, SOLDIERS' HILL NEW MEMORIAL HALL DEDICATION SERVICE ADDRESS BY ARCHDEACON TUCKER The Memorial Parish Hall of theSt. John's' Church of England, Soldiers Hill, wlas , dedicated by the Bishop of Ballarat, Dr Maxwell-Gumbleton, at a special service held last evening. The new hall, which faces Lydiard Street, is a spacious building, built of brick, and capable of seating several hun dred people. Branching of from the interior of the hall are a number of class-rooms. Altogether, the building cost £2000, of which sum £1000 is in hand, and £1600 has been promised. There was a large congregation, in cluding many clergymen of the dis trict, and a number of returned soldiers under Major Lazarus. The Bishop conducted the service, and was assisted by the Acting Vicar (the Rev. O. O. Andersen). The lessons were 'read by the Rev. O. F. Snell and Dean Lewis. After the recitation of the Creed and prayer, the Bishop dedicated the hall 'to the glory of God for the instruction off the childien of the churchm as a home for the missionary and social activities of the parish, and in memory of the soldiers of St. John's: Church who died in the great war." Prayers were offered for the parish of St. John's, for the teachers and child ren of the Sunday school, and for those in whose memory that hall was built, as well as for the soldiers of the Em pire. Archdeacon Tucker, in the course of a dedicatory address, said that fore most in their minds thatevening was the thought that the dedication service itself expressed their thankfulness to God for that building, which was|a neces ary equipment for the work of God. ... " (Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), Tuesday 14 August 1917, page 6) stood out; and attracted their attentention. The first was the readiless with which the people of the parish took up the work of building the hall. It was taken in hand swifltly as something that ought to be done, and carried through, with a quickness that showed how in stinct with life the Church of St. John's was. That noble building was not the memorial, of one man's gener ally : it was the memorial of many men's - and many women's generosity : not the large gifts of a few, but the willing gifts of many, and which were indeed large gifts for a great number of them, Colour Photographs of a red brick church and memorial hall in Armstrong St North and Lydiard St North. Memorial Stone " To the Glory of God and in Memory of the Soldiers of this parish who fell in the Great War by Maxwell Homfray Lord Bishopof Ballarat 24rh March 1817st john's soldier's hill, st john the evangelist, memorial hall, maxwell homfray, world war one, world war one memorial

Leather bound book, gold on edges of pages 867 pages, shield on front is goldNew Testament Psalmsbible, new testament, girdler, gumbleton, deaconate