Balaklava, SA - Uniting
Year Built: 1904
Denomination: Uniting
Address: 27 Edith Terrace, Balaklava, South Australia, 5461
Previous Denomination: Methodist
Architect: T Geddes White
Last Updated: 29/01/2025
Click on the image to view larger (3 photos)
History and Architecture:
A Heritage board at the front of the church reads in part, " Visiting preachers brought Methodism into the neighbourhood of Balaklava, initially holding services in a wheat shed. It was not until 1871 that the Bible Christian Members decided to build a church in the town. From 1872 it was also used as Balaklava Private Day School by Miss Emily Bell. This building continued in use as a Bible Christian Church until after they united with the Wesleyans in 1902 at Methodist Union and became the Balaklava Methodist Church.
The present chapel's foundation stone was laid on July 23, 1904 by Chief Justice Sir Samuel Way. A banquet was held in the Balaklava Institute to mark the occasion. Rev T Geddes-White was the designer, Mr J Crisp of Balaklava was the contractor and Mr S. B. Marchant was Clerk of Works.
In 1926, the porch with its beautiful stained glass windows was added by Mr R. H. Dennison. In 1924, a large Sunday School Hall was built to replace a wooden building, using limestone from Erith and free stone from east of Balaklava, the same stone used on the church".
A Foundation stone reads, " To the Glory of God This stone was laid by Rev W. Alfred Langsford President of the Conference on Thursday July 31st 1924". A further Foundation stone reads, " This stone was laid to the Glory of God by the Right Hon Sir S. J. Way Bart P.C. July 23rd 1904".
Clergy:
This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 - 1922 | Rev William J.H. Brasher | M | ||
| 1924 - 1925 | Rev Alwyn R. Broadbent | M | ||
| 1924 - 1927 | Rev William O. Harris | M | ||
| 1925 - 1926 | Rev Norman H. Wright | M | ||
| 1926 - 1927 | Rev Joseph Henry Davies | M | ||
| 1927 - 1928 | Rev Louis R. Barker | M | ||
| 1927 - 1931 | Rev W. Glen Clarke | M | 1858 | 1943 |
| 1931 - 1933 | Rev Clifford T. Symons | M | ||
| 1932 - 1936 | Rev Jasper Gilding | M | ||
| 1935 - 1937 | Rev Robert H. Davidson | M | ||
| 1936 - 1937 | Rev Clem Christopher | M | 1911 | 2003 |
| 1944 - 1948 | Rev Edward Henry Harrison | M | ||
| 1940 - 1944 | Rev Frederick W. Brasher | M | ||
| 1948 - 1952 | Rev Bertram S. Howland | M | ||
| 1952 - 1956 | Rev Francis Verdun Hansen | M | 1916 | 2009 |
| 1956 - 1960 | Rev Elwyn Dunstan Penna | M | ||
| 1960 - | Rev Oswald G. Edwards | M |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Methodist Church of Australasia Ministerial Index 9th Edition Revised to 1961