Western Region Website

About the Western Region

From Archdeacon Robert Presland - Archdeacon of Essendon

The Western Region is the largest region in the Diocese of Melbourne, geographically, stretching from Lorne to Williamstown, from Gisborne to Geelong. It includes some inner and outer suburbs, provincial towns and rural and coastal areas. It is really in two sections, the Western Suburbs and Geelong, with the Werribee plains in between.

The Anglican presence in the Western Region is as diverse as anywhere else in the diocese. There are 45 parishes with 72 churches. There are Anglican chaplaincies in two of the region's seven university campuses, two of the three prison facilities, two of the major hospitals and the Air Force base. The region is home to three Anglican schools, the Mission to Seafarers and St Laurence Community Services (Barwon) Inc as well as two religious communities.

The challenges we face in the west are enormous. The western and north-western suburbs, Werribee and the Geelong environs are developing rapidly. Over the last eight years there has been an explosion in university, hospital and prison facilities.

The need for effective ministry and appropriate resourcing is abundantly clear. We need train and encourage our "human resources" and free up and redeploying our financial resources.

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