St Paul’s College is a Christian foundation in the Anglican tradition, and we warmly welcome members of all faiths or none. Founded upon the revelation and promises of the Bible, the College remains committed to the truth that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).
As an Anglican college, our expression of Christian faith is both reformed and catholic, grounded in the three historic Christian creeds and the doctrine of the Anglican Church, as set out in The Book of Common Prayer (1662), and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which articulate the Church’s foundational theological convictions.
The Chapel and Chaplaincy at St Paul’s invite spiritual curiosity, thoughtful exploration, and reflection. Throughout the semester, we offer seven weekly services, including both said and choral liturgies. We also conduct baptisms and confirmations for current residents of the College who are ready to publicly affirm their Christian faith. Special services including ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, and the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols are advised separately.
Our principal weekly service is Choral Evensong, held each Tuesday at 5:15pm during semester, where a sermon is delivered by the Chaplain, Warden, or the occasional invited guest preacher including the Archbishop of Sydney or our Regional Bishop. Evensong isopen to members of the public: all are most welcome. Our internationally renowned Chapel Choir draws its repertoire from the English collegiate and cathedral tradition.
For further information, to discuss any aspect of chapel life, or to arrange an informal conversation, please feel free to contact the Chaplain,The Rev. Antony Weiss, on 0417 240 461 or chaplain@stpauls.edu.au
Christ has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.
It is precisely for this that St Paul’s College (like many other colleges in Australia, the UK, and elsewhere, as well as cathedrals and other churches) has a fine choral tradition offering the highest standard of church music.
Regarded for its “faultless performances” and “exquisite musical beauty” (Canberra CityNews, 2023), the St Paul’s College Chapel Choir is the flagship ensemble of the College’s musical life. An auditioned choir of students and Lay Clerks, it features some of Australia’s most exciting young musicians. Directed by Dr Jack Stephens, alongside internationally-renowned organist David Drury, during semester, the Choir is primarily engaged in singing Evensong in the College Chapel.
In 2024, the Choir undertook a major European tour, performing residencies at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral London, Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster, and leading Parisian churches including Saint-Sulpice, La Madeleine, and Saint-Eustache. That same year, the Choir won first prize in the International Christian Choir Competition. The Choir has also gained recognition for its performances of Baroque opera, including Purcell’s King Arthur (2021) with Peter Cousens, Dido and Aeneas (2022) with Sally-Anne Russell and Andrew Goodwin, and The Fairy Queen (2023). It has presented critically acclaimed orchestral concerts, most recently Fauré’s Requiem, Caroline Shaw’s To the Hands, and Buxtehude’s Jesu Membra Nostri, as well as a collaboration with the Sydney-based Ensemble Apex.
In 2024, the Choir gave the Australian premiere of John Frederick Lampe’s Baroque opera The Dragon of Wantley, in collaboration with The Muffat Collective and Peter Coleman-Wright AO. The Choir’s large-scale performances have been met with high praise, including two “triumphant” (MusicTrust, 2024) performances of Handel’s Messiah. Recent highlights include a 2024 tour with the Choir of Trinity College Melbourne, with concerts at St Jude’s Anglican Church, Bowral, and Christ Church St Laurence, as well as a collaboration with the Choir of St James’ King Street for the
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
The Chapel of St Paul’s College was consecrated in 1960 by the Most Reverend Hugh Rowlands Gough, Archbishop of Sydney 1959-1966. It stands as both the spiritual and liturgical heart of the life of this the College’s Anglican identity and worship which is primarily and outwardly expressed through the public reading of scripture and preaching, through the administration of the sacraments, and through corporate prayer.
The Chapel organ was built by the Dutch organ company, DA Flentrop of Zandaam, and is the only example of their work in Australia. It is neo-classical in style and was installed from 1971 to 1972, thanks to the generosity of the Albert family, who kindly enabled its extensive restoration in 2019.
