Kyneton, VIC - Baptist
Year Built: 1861
Denomination: Baptist
Address: 43 Ebden Street, Kyneton, Victoria, 3444
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Taungurung people
Last Updated: 29/07/2023
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History and Architecture:
The first Baptist services were held in late 1859 in the Kyneton Mechanics Hall. In October 1860 the Kyneton Baptist church was officially established. Shortly after this and in 1861 the church commenced it search for a suitable bloc of land for a church. Piper Street was selected and a wooden chapel was opened for regular services on 2 June 1861. The first to be baptised was Mitchell King Armstrong the eventual first editor of the Kyneton Guardian.*
In 1864 the chapel was extended by 30 feet at a cost of £204.00. By 1926 talk was afoot on a new church however there was not a lot of activity until 1950 when plans were drawn up. The builder was Mr N.H. Jenkins and the estimated cost was £3,000.00. Some materials from the old church were used in the new church. The old church was dismantled and services were held in Masonic Hall until the new church was completed.*
A crowd of 500 attended the opening of the new church on 14 February 1953. By 1981 the congregation had outlived this church and another was needed. The Arts council offered the former blue stone Congregational church in Ebden Street. The contract for the renovations was let to Mr Jim Nunn. The Architect for the renovations was awarded to Mr Keith Butler. The church was opened on 24 October 1982.*
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 - | Rev Davis Rees | |||
| 1860 - 1862 | Rev Stewart Wilson | |||
| 1862 - 1864 | Rev J. Bently | |||
| 1865 - 1866 | Rev W. Rickerby | |||
| 1866 - 1869 | Rev John Reid | |||
| 1869 - 1872 | Rev Hugh Cramer | |||
| 1872 - 1877 | Rev John Gregson | |||
| 1877 - 1880 | Rev Luke Brown | |||
| 1880 - 1883 | Rev Alexander Steele | |||
| 1884 - 1886 | Rev R. Williamson | |||
| 1887 - 1891 | Rev John Downing | |||
| 1892 - 1896 | Rev J. H. Pryce | |||
| 1896 - 1897 | Rev J. Macalister | |||
| 1898 - 1904 | Rev Frances Clemens | |||
| 1904 - 1905 | Rev E. Austin | |||
| 1905 - 1907 | Rev A.H. Collins | |||
| 1909 - 1912 | Rev S. M. Potter | |||
| 1913 - 1915 | Rev R. Farrer | |||
| 1916 - | Rev J. R. McCue | |||
| 1917 - 1919 | Rev Chapman Harris | |||
| 1920 - 1921 | Rev C. Urquhart | |||
| 1922 - 1927 | Rev W. Collard | |||
| 1928 - 1928 | Rev W. J. Ding | |||
| 1929 - 1936 | Rev R. Robertson | |||
| 1937 - 1941 | Rev A. G. Baker | |||
| 1944 - 1946 | Rev Geo Williams | |||
| 1946 - 1948 | Rev T. G. Hinton | |||
| 1949 - 1956 | Rev R. L. George | |||
| 1956 - 1958 | Rev M. D. Brewer | |||
| 1959 - 1962 | Rev L.J. Frost | |||
| 1963 - 1966 | Rev J. R. Rose | |||
| 1967 - 1970 | Rev J. N. Wilkinson | |||
| 1971 - 1975 | Rev E. R. Philip | |||
| 1975 - 1978 | Rev J. H. Kitchen | |||
| 1979 - | Rev Richard Dangerfield |
Organ:
The organ from the Melbourne St Paul's church was brought to St. Paul's in Kyneton in 1889.
Source:
Your Light is Come. A History of the first 125 years of the Kyneton Baptist Church. R-LH286.1 KYN