St Christopher’s Church comprises a distinctive, wedge-shaped brick building designed by architect Max Chester in 1969. It replaced the original brick church, constructed in 1961 to a design by Smith & Tracey, which remains in use today as the parish hall. The broader site also includes a presbytery, built in 1964, and subsequent school buildings.

Social and Spiritual Significance

St Christopher’s Church has long served, and continues to serve, as an important centre for Roman Catholic worship, community life and spiritual activity in the Airport West area.

Architectural Significance

Architecturally, the church is recognised as one of the earlier and more successful applications of the new liturgical planning principles introduced following the Second Vatican Council in 1965. These principles emphasised greater visibility of the sanctuary for the congregation, encouraging a more inclusive and participatory approach to worship.

The resulting design features an unusual and distinctive wedge-shaped floor plan, reflecting the architectural response to these evolving liturgical requirements.

The church is also significant as the first church designed by architect Max Chester, who went on to establish a prolific association with the Catholic Church throughout the 1970s and 1980s. St Christopher’s forms part of a group of three churches designed by Chester in Melbourne’s north-western suburbs, demonstrating his contribution to ecclesiastical architecture during this period.

Parish Priest history:

1960-1973          Fr John Phelan                               1st Parish Priest                                                                                              

          1964-1967          Fr Tom Gallagher                           Assistant Priest

          1968-1970          Fr Frank O’Connor                        Assistant

          1971-1974          Fr Barry Robinson                           Assistant

          1973-1980          Fr Patrick Maye                              Parish Priest

          1974-1977          Fr Alan McMahon                          Assistant

          1974-1977          Fr Geoff Morrell                              Assistant

          1977-1982          Fr Paul Hassall                                Assistant & Team Priest 1980

          1977-1978          Fr Cornelius Power                        Assistant

          1975-1981          Fr Peter McCartin                           Assistant

          1979-1981          Fr Martin Leach                             Assistant

          1980-1987          Fr Denis Minogue                           Leader of Priest Team

          1980-1984          Fr John Cunningham                    Team Priest

          1982-1983          Fr James Scarlett                            Assistant

          1984-1991          Fr Greg Trythall                              Assistant

          1985-1989          Fr Des Welladsen                           Assistant

          1988-2000          Fr Robert Cannon                          Parish Priest

          1989-1990          Fr Peter Finn                                    Assistant

          1991-1998          Fr Frank Bellett                                Assistant

          2001-2014          Mons. Franco Cavarra                 Parish Priest

          2014-2016          Fr Joseph Olickal                           Parish Priest

          2017-2024          Fr Peter Hoang                              Parish Priest

          2024-present     Fr Ananda Prasad Maddineni    Parish Priest