Arrangements are being made to celebrate the 90th anniversary of one of the oldest churches in Melbourne, St. Andrew's Church of England, Brighton, the history of which goes back to September, 1842. A small wooden building used at that time, it is said, to form the back portion of a house still standing in New Street. A layman, Dr. Wilmot, conducted the services, as for some years the only Anglican clergyman in Port Phillip was the Rev. Adam Compton Thomson, of St. James's Church, Melbourne.

In October, 1843, the church was presented with 10 acres of land by representatives of the Dendy, Deane, Were, and Dunsford families.

In 1849 the Rev. William Brickwood was ordained priest by Bishop Charles Perry, and in 1850 a stone church was erected. This building is still standing in another part of the church grounds, where it was moved for use as a school when the present church was built. The present church was built in 1862 and 1886, the nave being completed first and the chancel and transepts added later.

St. Andrews's is the only church in the metropolitan area with a graveyard in its grounds. The first burial there took place on November 9, 1845, and the small cemetery contains the graves of many early Melbourne settlers.

The celebrations will consist of special services, a reunion, a young people's social, a children's party, a garden party, and a gift day on the festival of St. Andrew.

The vicar (the Rev. Harold Balkwell Hewett) is anxious to obtain the addresses of as many old parishioners as possible so that all the early families of the church will be represented at the celebrations.