Christ Church East Bendigo

The history of Christ Church begins in 1897. Services in the East Bendigo area were taken by clergy or lay readers from St Paul’s Cathedral Bendigo. The services were held in the old Powder Magazine in Riley Street or in the old bar of the delicensed Irish Castle Hotel (formerly called the Charleston Hotel) off Strickland Road. For the first few years the church was officially called the Charleston Road Mission Hall. From 1901 until 1910 the church was known as St James. In these days the church was part of a sub-district of St Paul’s Bendigo known as Homebush along with St Stephens Emu Creek and St Phillip’s Spring Gully.

In these early days there is mention of a choir , CEMS- Church of England Men’s Society and GFS- Girls friendly Society and Sunday School. Tea meetings were held annually. In 1910 a ladies cricket club was formed., Ladies Guild, CEBS- Church of England Boys’ Society (1933)

The site of the present church was given by Mr Hampson, the local member of parliment and a regular parishoner. A weatherboard building was opened for worship in 1901.

The current brick building was dedicated on 23 September 1979.