St John the Baptist Church, Reid

St John's Anglican Church
St John the Baptist Anglican Church, Reid
St John's, Reid
Exterior from West, 2014
St John's Anglican Church
LocationCorner of Anzac Parade and Constitution Avenue, Reid, Australian Capital Territory
CountryAustralia
DenominationAnglican
Websitestjohnscanberra.org
History
Former name(s)St John the Baptist Church of England, Reid
DedicationSaint John the Baptist
Consecrated12 March 1845 (1845-03-12) by William Broughton
Architecture
Heritage designationACT Heritage Register
Architects
Style
Years built1841–1873
Specifications
Number of spires1 (in 1878)
Materials
Bells8 (2m., 16 sp. st., 3c., tr.)
Administration
DioceseCanberra and Goulburn
ParishCanberra
Clergy
BishopMark Short
RectorRev David McLennan
PriestRev Andrew Cameron (Public Theology)
CurateRev Anna Krebs
Laity
Organist/Director of musicSheila Thompson
Youth ministry coordinatorMary De Lautour (Children and Families Worker), Dr Kirsten Lamb (Youth Worker)
Music groupSt John's Choir

St John the Baptist Church is an Australian Anglican church in the Canberra suburb of Reid in the Australian Capital Territory. It is the oldest surviving public building within Canberra's inner city and the oldest church in the Australian Capital Territory, dating back to 1845, and contains several medieval stones, including a 12th century stone from Canterbury Cathedral and a 13th century stone from Westminster Abbey. The church is located at the corner of Anzac Parade and Constitution Avenue, adjacent to the Parliamentary Triangle.

St John's has been variously described as a "spiritual and social centre", a "sanctuary in the city" and "the Westminster Abbey of Australia". Overlooking Lake Burley Griffin today, it has remained a small English village-style church even as Australia's capital grew around it. Over time, it became a focal point for Australia's governors-general, politicians, public servants and military leaders, and has hosted royalty on numerous occasions.

The church remains an active place of worship and a Canberra landmark, although it has now been surrounded by offices and residential buildings. The bells of St John's, cast from the same foundry as the National Carillon, are audible from Lake Burley Griffin. St John's Care, a local charity, emergency relief and community organisation affiliated with Anglicare, is based in the church precinct, as is the parish's musical group, the St John's Choir. An annual community fair has been held in the church grounds since the 1930s, with participation from local schools, bands and arts organisations. In March 2020, the church celebrated its 175th anniversary since consecration.