On April 27, the parish of St. Eanswythe’s celebrates 100 years of worship within Altona. On 27 April 1926, twenty-three local residents met to appoint wardens and a vestry for their new church. They also discussed the arrangement to rent the Alton Progress Hall for use for church services. Amongest those who met that day, were Alfred Charles Turner, Edith Mary Turner, Mary Elizabeth Tyrell, Harriet Hannah Woodyard, Richard Harvey and Hilda Victoria Harvey, who were all still extremely active within the parish some forty years later.

Service in the local hall commenced the following Sunday and continued there for the next two years with Reverend F G Hughes as the vicar. Through the efforts of Alfred Turner, a building formerly used by the Methodist Church in Newport, was acquired and transported to the church site in Queen Street, Altona . This served until a more modern building was aquired from Laverton in October 1933.

Rev. Edwards, who was in charge from April 1928, gave the church the name of St. Eanswythe. It was reported that he had commenced his ministry at the Church of St. Mary and. St. Eanswythe at Folkestone in England. This, together with a desire to emphasise that the Church of England was in existence long before Henry VIII, was the reason for dedicating the new Church of St Eanswythe. St Eanswythe was the grand daughter of King Ethelbert of Kent, the first anglo-saxen king to bcome a christian.

The current church centre was officially opened on 12 September 1970 by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Frank Woods. The congregation on this special occasion included past clergy members of St Eanswythe, clergy of other denominations, clergy from other Anglican churches within the surrounding area, and the Altona Mayor and Councillors. In December 1979, the Most Reverend Archbishop Robert Dann returned to the parish of St Eanswythe to dedicate the new modern three panel-stained glass window that had been installed.

To all members of St Eanswythe we congratulate you on your centennary.