Biography

St. Aidan's Church, East Launceston 1893- 
St. Aidan’s Church in East Launceston began as a Sunday School in temporary premises (a shop) at the corner of Arthur and Abbott Sts. The foundation of the church building, designed by well-known architect Alexander North, was laid in 1893. Design work was carved by Sylvanus Wilmot. The original design included a tower, intended to rise to 25 metres! The present-day porch, added in 1912, was intended to be the base of the tower. The crossing, such as it was, was added in 1922, and the chancel and crypt in 1952. In 2007, the modern timber and glass extension was added on the north side, and a storage area on the south side. By 2025, the oiled timber of the 2007 extension was badly weathered, and metal cladding of a similar colour was overlaid. At around the same time, a further storage area was built, east of the existing area on the south side.

The building was first opened for worship in 1894. In its earliest times, it was part of the parish of St. John’s, Launceston. Miss Genders was the first superintendent of the Sunday School. In 1921, it became a separate parish. 

Research has suggested that the aim was to have a building project every 10 years from the original founding in 1892, circumstances and finances permitting. The nave was built in 1893-4 (architect - Alexander North). The porch (base of intended tower) was added some years afterwards, but the date needs further research.

The crossing dates from 1922-3 (North & Heyward); the lych gate from 1942 (H.S. East?); and the chancel and crypt from  1952-3 (Roy Smith). No project in the early 1930s, probably due to the Great Depression, although extensive works had already been completed in the 1920s (see below). The crossing had “temporary” timber walls built under the brick arches which were intended to open out to proposed transepts. The southern timber wall gave access to a timber lean-to vestry, also temporary. These temporary elements remained in place for more than 80 years. 

The “upper room” (southern end), kitchen and toilets were added to the hall complex in 1961-2 (Roy Smith). The northern end of the main hall was erected in 1919 (Thomas Tandy) and the southern end of the hall dates from 1929 (Frank Heyward). Frank Heyward was also responsible for the former rectory at 20 Lanoma Street, built in 1925-6 - now a private residence.

St. Aidan’s continued as a separate parish until 2004. During the 1970s and 1980s, it was very much involved in the worldwide charismatic movement.  By the early 2000s, its viability as a separate parish was in question, and it amalgamated with the parishes of Trevallyn-Riverside and George Town to form Riverlinks Parish. A feature of that parish was “enabled” ministry – non-stipendiary lay people were ordained, and led services, preached and presided at the Lord’s table. The Riverlinks Parish itself was merged with St. John’s Launceston and the parish of St. Leonard’s in 2019 to become All Saints Anglican Network.

At the time of writing, a new church plant to establish a congregation on the St. Aidan's site, is in planning. 

The St. Aidan’s site, including the church and hall buildings, remain in constant use as part of All Saints Anglican Network, and during the redevelopment of St. John’s Church in 2023-2024, St. Aidan’s was used for Sunday services of worship.

A partial history of the parish was written in the 1940s, and is linked below. Key minute books that would allow that history to be continued are missing.

Source