History of St Hilary's & St Silas Anglican Church

St Hilary's Church was established in 1888, as a church in the evangelical tradition. The original church building was a wooden construction and the present church building dates from 1939.

The first incumbent, the Rev'd Stanley Mercer, came to St Hilary's in 1889. He was a notable preacher of evangelical views, attracting large crowds, but remained a short-time. In 1892, the Rev'd Harry Collier was appointed. He served the Parish until 1912 with a ministry characterised by great faith, zeal, insight, wisdom and humility. Mr Collier introduced week-night services, encouraged Bible classes for children, for domestic servants and Chinese market gardeners. He supported parishioners involved in missions and was involved in the Temperance Society. During the incumbency of the Rev'd Charles Barnes (1913-1929) the social life of the church flourished - the Tennis Club, Cricket Club, and Men's Society and Women's Guild, amongst other groups, were established. The Rev'd Arthur Reginald Mace came to St Hilary's in 1929 and served the Parish for 21 years. He was noted for his strong personal faith. During the difficult years of the Depression and the War, Mr Mace sought to spiritually, emotionally and materially support his parishoners.

The Rev'd William V L LLoyd came to St Hilary's in 1950, serving until 1975. Two of his major achievements were the establishment of St Martin's Deepdene, in 1958 and the development of youth ministry, of which St Hilary's remains renowned. Mr LLoyd, in the Church of England's evangelical tradition, brought guest speakers from Ridley College and employed Bible scholars. He also maintained strong support for missionaries and the Church Missionary Society. Mr LLoyd experimented with service times and modern orders of service. The church was an early pioneer of youth-focussed evening services with contemporary worship, aged-based Bible cell groups, and other groups. Mr LLoyd retired in 1975 due to illness.

In 1965 the Rev'd Peter Corney took up the position of youth director at St Hilary's and returned as the incumbent in 1972. The ministry of Peter and his staff was characterised by the provision of pastoral care, counselling services and welfare assistancce within and outside the church; the establishment of a small groups ministry; and the continued effective communication and outreach to youth and young adults through Sunday Night Live, schools ministry, Earth Club adventure group, contemporary Christian music, and other groups and initiatives. Peter was able to encourage the church to become more of a united family, yet catering for a diverse range of people, from families, to youth, to the elderly, and to inspire some great dedication and involvement of the lay people to the church's programs. During the time of Peter's incumbency, the church continued to support overseas missionaries with CMS and Interserve and a number of other justice and mission agencies. Peter established the Institute for Contemporary Christian Leadership in 1992 and after retiring as Vicar of St Hilary's in 1999 became Director of ICCL before retiring from this position in 2001.

The Rev'd Paul Perini's incumbency began in 1999. Paul and his wife Michelle grew up in and ministered in Sydney with their three children before coming to Melbourne. During the time Paul has been Vicar, St Hilary's congregations, led by strong ministry teams, have developed six congregations with their own unique styles. The recently created Solace congregation, off-site at Carey Grammar, has more and more developed a unique identity of its own. The 7.15pm congregation, catering for people in their middle years (40+) was formed and has a healthy and committed congregation. Congregational small groups, new ministries and well-established ones continue to meet the varied spiritual, material, and emotional needs of those who call St Hilary's home. Missions and social justice continues to be very important in the life of St Hilary's. Youth and children and families ministries have also continued to flourish. Mustard Schools Ministry, the children's Holiday Program and Gumnuts Playgroup are just a few examples of a successful ministries reaching out into the community with the Christian message. St Hilary's continues to take a pioneering role in developing Christian leaders. St Hilary's supports a Ministry Training Program which trains young church leaders, with theological study through Ridley College and practical experience in a church environment. Alpha, and evangelistic missions, continue to bring people seeking answers to life's questions to St Hilary's.

In May 2005 the Archbishop approved the amagenet of St Hilarys with the parish at North Balwyn. The combined parish then became know as the Parish of Kew North Balwyn with two sites. One at John St Kew and one at St Silas North Balwyn. Paul Perini became the incumbent of the new parish.