The Chapel at St George's College

The foundation stone was laid before the College was opened in 1928 by the Archbishop of Perth, The Most Reverend C.O.L. Riley.  The chapel runs in a North-South direction (most churches run East-West) and is built in the "collegriate" style (with the pews facing each other) which is common in the chancels of English Cathedrals and College chapels.  It has a maximum capacity of just over 100 people.

Five "blazons" adorn the exterior Southern wall to represent the five dioceses to which the suburb of Crawley has belonged (Canterbury, Calcutta, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth).  The five stained glass windows at the Southern end portray Archbishop Riley, St Boniface, St Augustine, St Aidan and Archbishop Broughton.  The three windows at the Northern end show St George, Jesus and St Paul.

There are three significant paintings in the Chapel; In Him Was Life and the Life was the Light of Men by Carol Rudyard in 1971, Christus Rex by Guy Grey Smith in 1964, and the covered triptych which is dated 1507.  It was donated as part of the John Gill collection and is Flemish or North German in origin but the dating is uncertain.  It portrays St John, Jesus and Mary and St Joseph.

The pipe organ was built by J.E. Dodd and Sons for the opening of the Chapel in 1931 and has 518 pipes, the smallest of which is less than 4cms long.  The baby grand piano is German, has an unusual bell shape and dates from the 1920's.  The bell tower contains a single bell and the crest of the Chapel is adorned with a large, stone Celtic cross.

The St George's College Chapel is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful liturgical buildings in Perth.

Prayer and Worship Times

The Chapel at St George's College is regularly used.  It is open daily for residents to pray, listen to or practice music, or simply take some time out.  It is also used for College debates and drama productions.  Worship times for 2007 are;

• Sundays 5pm, a simple Anglican eucharist
• Thursdays 6pm (in semester time), evensong led by the UWA Winthrop Singers (a top class undergraduate choir under the direction of Dr Nicholas Bannan)
• Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7.45-8.00am morning prayer
• And a variety of special occasion services

Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals

The Chapel is available for these services.  Preference is given to Georgians but not exclusive use.  These are Anglican services and for weddings at least one member of the couple must be a baptised Anglican and the service must be taken by an Anglican priest.  Further information is available under our Wedding Policy statement and bookings can be made by ringing the College Chaplain on 9449 5555.