About Us

Blackburn Presbyterian Church (BPC) is located just off the Avenue at 53 Gardenia St, Blackburn VIC 3130. We are a congregation belonging to the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. Our main worship services are at 11am Sunday mornings with prayer and fellowship meetings throughout the week. Our physcial services have been resumed and continue to be available online via our online platforms (YouTube, facebook, audiomack and soundcloud). Our current minister is Rev. Graham Bradbeer.

Our History

The history of BPC traces as far back as the numerous Blackburnian home fellowship gatherings during the 1880's. Back then, the Blackburn area was regarded as a popular rural lakeside picnic destination.

With its new single track rail line and numerous acasias and eucalytpus trees, many new residents settled in the area. To accomodate the population growth at Blackburn, presbyterian gatherings continued locally in recreational halls, the open air school on Gardenia st and at St John's Anglican. It wasn't until 1926 when the first Presbyterian Church building in Blackburn was built on the Avenue. Gatherings continued there until 1960 where a new Church building was also erected on the Avenue.

During the 1980's, Blackburn presbyterians were without a place to gather. After meeting in various halls, they sought to return to the Gardenia St area with the purchasing of a former chapel at 53 Gardenia St (our current site). From there, BPC continues to gather and abide in Christ, to know him and to make him known.

What we believe

A summary of our beliefs is outlined below. A more complete treatment of our beliefs can be found here.

OUR BELIEFS

• We believe in the authority, sufficiency and necessity of God’s revealed Word, the Bible, for all of life. We earnestly strive to follow Christ and His apostles.
  
• We believe that salvation comes by God drawing people to the Lord Jesus Christ by his Holy Spirit. He convinces them of their sin and enlightens them so that they repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as He is offered in the Gospel.
  
• We believe in the Trinity of the Godhead. There is one God who exists eternally in three Persons–the Father who saves people by drawing them to his Son through the Holy Spirit. These three are one in power and glory.
  
• We believe in the full divinity and the full humanity of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. He is the fullest and final revelation of God to mankind.
  
• We believe that Jesus Christ, as the eternal Son of God, became man, lived, died and rose again to atone for the sins of those who trust Him alone for their salvation. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and mankind.
  
• We believe that the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is our infallible and divine authority in all matters of faith and life.
  
• We believe that God’s Holy Spirit gives Christians, as they rely on Him, the daily strength and wisdom they need to walk according to His will and to grow in holiness.
  
• We believe that all people are sinners and are unable to save themselves or even co-operate with God in efforts to earn their salvation.
  
• We believe that Jesus Christ shall return personally, visibly and bodily to judge all mankind and to receive His people unto Himself.