Our parish history "Letters from Mitcham" is a beautiful hard cover 326 page book, detailed with photographs and letters, researched and compiled by Pamela Oborn.  This book is available from the parish office for $55 per copy (plus $10 postage and handling). Download order form here.

See also past incumbents and fittings and fixtures pages.

The foundation stone of Saint Michael’s Church, which stands on an acre of land given by Robert Thornber, was laid on the 30th of September 1848, with the first service being held on the 17th of October 1852. Consecration of the church was deferred, as it was still unfinished - “neither ceiled nor plastered, with temporary doors and calico windows” stated a report of the time. The architect who designed the church was a Mr. Weir. At this service prayers were read by the first incumbent minister, The Rev E. H. Burnett, and a sermon was preached by the Lord Bishop of Adelaide, Dr. Short.

During 1859, two acres of land and a house on the eastern side of Fullarton Road were purchased as a Parsonage. It was to remain in use for 99 years until the present rectory was built in 1958.




In 1863 the southern nave was built to accommodate the increased congregation, the architect being Edmund Wright, whose name is commemorated in Edmund Wright House. The original shingle roof was also covered with iron at that time. The priest’s vestry was added in 1871, and the choir vestry in 1899. The original St. Michael’s Hall on Princes Road was built in 1890 as a parish hall and, until 1953, used as a day school. The foundation stone of a daughter church, St. Columba’s Hawthorn, was laid in May 1898, and the church was opened on October 23, 1898. It continued as part of this parish until 1922. St. Wilfrid’s Torrens Park was built in 1934, and dedicated on May 9th.

The Centenary Terrace in front of St. Michael’s Church was dedicated in 1953. The old parish hall was sold and a new hall built at St. Michael’s and was dedicated on the 30th of November 1980.

St Wilfrid’s Church was sold in 2004 and the proceeds invested in a Ministry Fund, with the income used for the ongoing Ministry of the Parish.

The Parish of Mitcham has had thirteen incumbents. Since 1893 with the appointment of The Rev’d A W Clampett the incumbent has been styled Rector of the parish. Our most recent Rectors have been Canon A W Cheesman (1976- 2001), and The Rev’d N B Mitchell (2002-2007)

“May we never lose the sense of the need, the beauty, and the aid of holy worship. For us let it be an outward expression of our religion, of our faith”.
Archdeacon A. W. Clampett, 1901

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