The Rev Hooi Wan Cheng is the leader of Sydney’s latest history-making church.

Hornsby Anglican Chinese Church (HACC) became the first provisional recognised church in Sydney Diocese in January.

The church, which meets in the St Peter’s, Hornsby building, was planted by Mr Cheng four years ago with a core group of less than 10. Over 100 people now attend the Mandarin-speaking congregation.

Despite continuing to meet on the St Peter’s property, the Diocese has agreed to give HACC its independence as a provisional recognised church.

This church is the first of its kind since the passing of the Recognised Churches Provisional Status Amendment Ordinance at Synod in 2007. This allows churches independent of a parish and without their own property to be given provisional status before growing into a fully-fledged independent church.

Hornsby Anglican Chinese Church, which is a separate entity to St Peter’s is also unique as a Chinese congregation as it was started by a regional council and not a parish.

Bishop of North Sydney Glenn Davies says the Northern Regional Council has heavily supported Mr Cheng’s stipend for the past four years and has made a commitment to continue financial support for at least another five years.

The independent status means the church will have their own wardens, parish councillors and a synod representative. They will now also pay rent to the St Peter’s parish for use of the building.

How a church of 10 grew to 100

Mr Cheng is excited that his church has achieved this status due to congregation growth. He says members have worked together to facilitate growth.

“An important ministry is the playgroup that runs on Friday morning which attracts grandparents as kids. A number of people have come to the church through the playgroup,” Mr Cheng says.

The Northern Regional Council knew Mr Cheng was a proven church planter when they brought him over from New Zealand five years ago where he had led a small church that grew to 400 people. Bishop Davies calls HACC ‘a wonderful success story’.

“Hooi Wan is very good at attracting Chinese to hear the Bible taught. He has already started a Chinese language school as a way of connecting with community so Hooi Wan is Connect 09 ahead of his time,” Bishop Davies says.

“He has also successfully formed networks on university campuses and connected students to his church.”

A special celebration service was held at St Peter’s on January 13 with Bishop Davies present to officially recognise the new status of HACC.

HACC is the second Chinese congregation to be recognised as a new church in the Northern Region in the past year. Hope Anglican Church in East Chatswood, which is led by the Rev Brian Tung and meets in a rented hall, became a provisional parish in July 2007.