... special ministries from Christ Church to the community
Several ministries at Christ Church are directed towards the wider community and world in which we live, including -
The Church is also open from 12-2pm every week day for visitors to browse or to pray, or just to have some quiet time within the beauty and splendour of our church building.
The Meals and Emergency Relief Programs at Christ Church has been operating for over 25 years, providing a free breakfast seven days a week throughout the year and an evening meal every Monday and
Wednesday (as detailed below). Following the restrictions imposed by the Covis pandemic (2020 - 2022) the CCCMP needed to make some changes to meet the health requirements at that time, and currently (2025) only take-away breakfasts and evening meals are provided.
The Community Meals Program is well known and is a respected contribution to welfare in Geelong. Guests come from a range of backgrounds - street kids, homeless people, schoolchildren, people who need company
as much as food, the unemployed, stranded travellers and families. All are welcomed regardless
of their circumstances and, for some, the meal at Christ Church may be their main meal of the day; for others it is
their only meal.
The Meals Programme has been runsince its outset entirely by volunteers, including many community organisations,
businesses, St John of God Hospital, St John of God Lighthouse Faoundation, Barwon Health, and several Anglican, Catholic, Uniting, Orthodox and other Parishes, service clubs, and sometimes with the assistance of students from different local
schools. The evening meals program is supported by several local businesses, including Glyn Harvey (vegetables) and Tasman Meats. The Program is registered with the Anglican Benevolent Society Inc., and so donations made to the Program
when accompanied by the appropriate paperwork are tax deductible. A Thanksgiving Service for the Meals Program is usually held each year - an opportunity to acknowledge and thank all those who have been involved in and continue to support the Program.
BREAKFAST 7.30-9.00AM EVERY DAY - is available to any person, every day of the year.
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY - EVENING MEAL 5.00-6.30pm - On these evenings a take-away main meal is provided, along with takeaway tea and
coffee. Breakfasts and the Monday/Wednesday
evening meals are served from the Parish Hall at the corner of Moorabool and Lt Myers streets.
EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF During the hours when Christ Church is open for visitors each week day (usually Monday-Friday 12.00-2.00pm), emergency food parcels are available for anyone in need, though levels of demand usually mean that parcels are available only once per month for each person. Volunteer parishioners are available whenever the church is open to assist with food enquiries.
If you are interested in volunteering to help at either the Breakfast or evening Meals Programme, or in supporting the Emergency Food Relief program, contact the Meals Program Coordinator via the Parish Office.
From time to time Christ Church becomes a focus for music in Geelong. Various community groups have used the church as a concert venue - by such varied groups as the Sudanese Chollo Choir from Melbourne, the Melbourne Singers, the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, performances of Stainer's "Crucifixion" at several Easter celebrations, the Vox Angelika Vocal Ensemble, and the Acabellas Community Choir (which recorded a CD in the church in January 2018). Our contribution is to provide a venue to local and Melbourne musicians who love to perform in an historic and unique ambience. For the Parish it provides enjoyment and the opportunity to invite outsiders to experience our Church and its magnificent acoustics.
As further concerts are planned they will be advertised in the local press, via this Web site, and in Parish newsletters.