Our Story
Our story begins more than six decades ago. Over those years we have seen God's faithfulness as our church grew — the story of the Free Evangelical Church.
Humble Beginnings
The Church was established in the 1960s by Greek migrants who had come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Initially they congregated with English-speaking Christians but were moved by the Holy Spirit to a Greek-speaking Evangelical Church. The church began as a home church, then meeting in premises across Fitzroy and Northcote, and for many years operated out of premises in Collins Street Melbourne and Footscray. In the late 1970s the Church moved to its current home in North Melbourne.
The early congregation gathering together, 1960s
The late Dr. Yerasimos Zervopoulos — pioneer of the Hellenic Christian Program
Sunday service in the early years of the church
A Season of Growth
The Church grew very quickly in the 1970s and 1980s, primarily as a result of Greek migration to Australia and the growth of families within the Church. The church was supported by the Hellenic Christian Program — an initiative of the late Dr. Yerasmus Zervopoulos and the Free Evangelical churches in Greece — whose vision and faithfulness helped shape the spiritual life of the congregation during these formative decades.
The church choir — a vital part of worship life
Community picnic — celebrating 50 years of God's faithfulness
50th year anniversary celebration
Ministries, Mission & a New Home
As the church grew, so did the number of ministries — including Greek school, Sunday school, youth group, and the elderly members group. In the early 2000s, English church services began to cater for those not familiar with the Greek language. In later years the English-speaking congregation has taken on a much more diverse character, as people from backgrounds other than Greek have joined us. Today, our North Melbourne home stands as a modern, welcoming place of worship — beautifully renovated, yet rooted in the same Spirit-led faith that first brought a small group of Greek migrants together over sixty years ago.
A full Sunday morning service — the church packed with worshippers
The beautifully renovated sanctuary
The welcoming foyer of our North Melbourne home
Our entrance hall — a place of welcome for all
The sanctuary featuring our iconic stained-glass windows
Our home at 170 Capel Street, North Melbourne
The congregation gathered in worship — Sunday service
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."Ephesians 2:10
We are grateful for every person God has brought through our doors — and we look forward with faith to all He has ahead.