Bright, VIC - Uniting
Year Built: 1884
Denomination: Uniting
Address: Ireland Street, Bright, Victoria, 3741
Previous Denomination: Methodist
Architect: Thomas Kaighin
Traditional Owners: Including Pangerang, Minjambuta, Duduroa people
Last Updated: 03/03/2023
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History and Architecture:
The first church was a wooden structure with a shingle roof and situated behind present-time "Outdoor & Disposals." Later when this land was sold, probably to finance our present building, it was transferred to behind today's church.
The Foundation stone of the new brick church was laid by Mrs Worth on 10th day of March, 1884. The Marquis of Normandy, G.C.M.G. being Governor of Victoria, The Rev. Henry Bath, President of Victorian and Tasmanian Conference, The Rev. James deQ Robin, M.A., Chairman of the Ovens and Murray District, The Rev. Wm. S. Worth, Superintendent of Wandiligong and Bright Circuit and Messrs Wickens M.D., Cunningham, Sharp, Risk, Lumley, Scholfield, Bruckner, H. Sharp Trutees, and Thomas Kaighin Architect, John Wilson Inspector of Works, Messrs Kaighan and Sons and Hedge Contractors were present.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 - | Rev Thos Edmeades | M | ||
| 1866 - 1868 | Rev Thomas Grove | M | 1843 | 1916 |
| 1869 - 1870 | Rev David Annear | M | 1833 | 1909 |
| 1871 - 1873 | Rev William Williams | M | 1848 | 1913 |
| 1874 - 1875 | Rev Henry Moore | M | ||
| 1876 - | Rev Andrew Anglis | M | ||
| 1877 - 1879 | Rev Henry F. Merriman | M | 1844 | 1907 |
| 1880 - 1882 | Rev Chas Sanders | M | ||
| 1883 - 1884 | Rev William J. Worth | M | 1828 | 1903 |
| 1885 - 1888 | Rev R. Osborne Cook | M | ||
| 1888 - 1891 | Rev Fred H. Williams | M | ||
| 1891 - 1893 | Rev Thomas Kane | M | 1840 | 1906 |
| 1893 - 1896 | Rev Lawrence Tait | M | 1861 | 1925 |
| 1896 - 1899 | Rev William Vawdon | M | ||
| 1899 - 1902 | Rev John Leslie | M | 1848 | 1931 |
| 1902 - 1903 | Rev Henry E. Merriman | M | 1844 | 1907 |
| 1903 - 1906 | Rev Jabez W. Edwards | M | 1860 | 1933 |
| 1906 - 1909 | Rev William Richards | M | 1870 | 1927 |
| 1909 - 1911 | Rev Henry C. Oldmeadow | M | 1880 | 1952 |
| 1911 - 1912 | Rev Walter Davey | M | ||
| 1912 - 1915 | Rev Henry Fowler | M | 1862 | 1915 |
| 1915 - 1918 | Rev L. E. Egan Lee | M | ||
| 1918 - 1920 | Rev Reuben Newell | M | 1851 | 1926 |
| 1920 - 1923 | Rev F. H. Metcalfe | M | ||
| 1923 - 1925 | Rev R. S. Williams | M | ||
| 1925 - 1927 | Rev J. Mellor | M | ||
| 1927 - 1928 | Rev Lionel M. Young | M | ||
| 1928 - 1931 | Rev A. McQueen | M Home Mission status | ||
| 1931 - 1935 | Rev L Coulthard | M Home Mission status | ||
| 1935 - 1937 | Rev W. R. Kemp | M | ||
| 1937 - 1940 | Rev Charles Brown | M | ||
| 1940 - 1942 | Rev Eric Barren | M | ||
| 1942 - 1945 | Rev Arthur E. Filbey | M Home Mission status | ||
| 1945 - 1946 | Rev Keith N. Leigh | M | ||
| 1946 - 1949 | Rev S. Edgar Lancaster | M | ||
| 1949 - 1953 | Rev G. Richards | M | ||
| 1953 - 1954 | Rev H. M. Wanted | M | ||
| 1954 - 1956 | Rev George Randle | M Home Mission status | ||
| 1956 - 1957 | Rev R. Gordon | M Home Mission status | ||
| 1957 - 1958 | Rev R. A. Moore | M Home Missionary | ||
| 1958 - 1960 | Rev D. Tarran | M Home Missionary | ||
| 1960 - 1962 | Rev A. E. Wicks | M Home Missionary | ||
| 1962 - 1963 | Rev R. V. Harkness | M Home Missionary | ||
| 1965 - 1967 | Rev A. E. Dunstan | M Home Missionary | ||
| 1967 - 1969 | Rev David Fleming | M Home Missionary | ||
| 1969 - 1970 | Rev David J. Baxter | M | ||
| 1970 - 1971 | Rev Graeme A. Wells | M | ||
| 1972 - | Rev Lyndsay Morris | M | ||
| 1973 - 1977 | Rev Barry Brown | M | ||
| 1978 - | Rev Hugh Hallett | U | ||
| 1978 - | Rev Cornelis Swart | U | ||
| 1979 - 1980 | Rev David Turner | U | ||
| 1981 - | Rev Jon Pernu | U | ||
| 2020 - | Rev Lindell Gibson | U | ||
| 2020 - | Rev Malcolm Rawlings | U |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Bright Uniting Church formerly Methodist 1884 - 1984
2. Bright Methodist Church Centenary Celebrations 17th - 18th April 1965. NE 287.699455 BRI