St Peter’s Cathedral has a vision. It is of a Christ-centred, sacramental, inclusive, thinking and mission-oriented faith community in both the Diocese and City of Adelaide; Moreover, the Cathedral is determined to be a place of compassion and goodwill for all who enter our doors.

The foresight of earlier generations led to countless gifts being made over the years, enabling St Peter’s Cathedral to become and remain an anchor for Adelaide. These gifts have funded ministries beyond their donors’ dreams. By making a Bequest or Deferring a Gift to St Peter’s Cathedral, you will be remembered by future generations for many years.

A bequest to St Peter’s Cathedral is your opportunity to make a final lasting gift for the benefit of future generations of South Australians.

If you wish to be honoured for your bequest in your own life time, inform the Dean of your commitment to make a bequest and you will become a member of the Augustus Short Society.

A carefully prepared will or estate plan is the best way to ensure that your loved ones are provided for after your death, and that your preferred charities are supported as you intend. They allow you to retain full use of your assets during your lifetime and still make a significant gift to the Church.

Additional information can be found in our Brochure and Guide to making a bequest to St Peter’s Cathedral.

For more information please contact the Dean.

The Augustus Short Society

The Augustus Short Society is made up of people who have made a commitment to make a bequest to St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide and who wish to be acknowledged in their own life time.

Bishop Short was a great visionary and achiever who left a great legacy to St Peter’s Cathedral, the Diocese and the State.

Augustus Short, the first Anglican Bishop of Adelaide, was born 11 June 1802 at Bickham House near Exeter, Devon England. He was educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford (B.A., 1824; M.A., 1826; D.D., 1847), he spent two years as tutor and was ordained priest in 1827. On 10 December 1835 he married Millicent Clara, daughter of John Phillips of Culham House, Oxfordshire.

In 1845 Short was given the choice of either the Adelaide or Newcastle diocese. He chose Adelaide and on 29 June 1847 was consecrated bishop in Westminster Abbey. He arrived in the Derwent on 28 December 1847. When the family arrived they stayed at Government House until the house now known as Beaumont House was made ready for the family.

His vast diocese, which included Western Australia, had only eight clergy, four church buildings, with five under construction, one parsonage and one school but, helped by state aid he began to build.

As an old scholar of the school at the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, and as he was consecrated in Westminster Abbey, he transformed the school which had been started at Trinity Church in Adelaide into the Collegiate School of St Peter, and on 24 May 1849 laid its foundation stone. He was also actively involved in the founding of the University of Adelaide.

Christ Church, North Adelaide, was built by Augustus Short (along with other churches) before the Cathedral.

The foundation stone of the present building was not laid until June 29th, 1869, the 22nd anniversary of Bishop Short’s consecration. The first part of the Cathedral, consisting of sanctuary, choir, transepts and one bay of the nave was consecrated on the January 1, 1878. The completion of this part of the building was a great joy to Bishop Short who retired four years later.

How do I become a member of the society?

To become a member of the Society simply complete the form stating that you have made provision in your will to leave a bequest to St Peter’s Cathedral. There is no requirement to specify the size of the bequest, just that you have made a commitment. Your details will be recorded in the Cathedral Office and you will be invited to an annual thanksgiving service and receive regular newsletters about the Cathedral and its activities.

Upon receipt of your Bequest your name will be inscribed in a book along with others who make a bequest to ensure that your gift is remembered by generations to come.