Hillsong Church numbers continue to grow in Knox

It’s one of the world’s best known Christian megachurches, loved by Justin Bieber and no stranger to controversy — and it’s set up shop in Knox. Here’s why this church has worshippers flocking to its new headquarters.

State pastor for Victoria Tim Douglass at the new Hillsong Church in Knoxfield. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The popularity of Hillsong Church continues to grow in Knox, with the church welcoming hundreds of worshippers each week at its new headquarters in Knoxfield.

The Christian church moved from Bayswater to the bigger Burwood Highway site earlier this year, after VCAT awarded a planning permit in 2017.

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Pastor of Hillsong Victoria Tim Douglass said the church had outgrown its Bayswater headquarters, and the larger Knoxfield site would allow them to help more people in the community.

“We pray that Hillsong Church feels like home for people who live in the surrounding suburbs, and that with this much improved facility we can help those who are in need in any way we can,” Mr Douglass said.

“Hundreds of people already call Hillsong Church Knoxfield their home, and each week we are seeing new people attend our services and connect into the church family. We are seeing such a great response from the local community.”

Tim Douglass, the state pastor for Victoria, with East Campus Pastor John Sparey his wife Sarah and daughter Charlotte at the new Hillsong Church in Knoxfield. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Mr Douglass said the building included an auditorium, foyer space with cafe, and a children’s centre including a parent’s room.

There are also meeting rooms and an open plan office for volunteers and staff to work from.

The church’s original plans for the site at 557 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield, hit a hurdle after being knocked back by VicRoads and Knox Council in 2016 due to parking and traffic concerns.

Mr Douglass said they had worked closely with Knox Council and town and traffic planners to find a way to provide extra parking on site, and were confident “that the church will be a blessing to our neighbours”.

Weekend services are held on Sunday mornings and evenings.

Mr Douglass said Hillsong was a Christian church that loved God and all people.

“We hold beliefs consistent with those of most mainstream Christian churches and denominations,” he said.

“We are blessed to be a growing church and we give all glory to God for this.

“We have a heart for authentic worship, and we express this through contemporary music as part of our church services.”

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Knox Council’s acting city development director Paul Dickie confirmed a planning permit was issued for the church in March 2017 following a VCAT decision on the matter.

Mr Dickie said the permit allowed for two stages of development, with additional carparking provided in stage two.

During the first stage a maximum of 481 people are allowed on site seven days a week between 7am and 10.30pm.

During stage two, which would involve demolishing an existing warehouse on the site to create more parking, a maximum of 600 patrons will be allowed Monday to Friday from 6.30pm to 10.30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 10.30pm.

A total of 900 people will be allowed during special events including Christmas and Easter and one other Saturday or Sunday during the month of February.