Clayton, VIC - Church of Christ Fellowship

History and Architecture:

On 4 February 1951, a small group of believers met in the home of Bill and Vera Munyard at 459 Clayton Road, Clayton. Within six months, numbers had increased and they had outgrown the house so the public hall in the main street of Clayton was hired for meetings. Church meetings were held here each Sunday for the next three years.

In 1951 the current block of land was purchased to prepare for the church’s expected growth. Volunteers led by Bill Munyard and Don May, built the first Church of Christ in Clayton. The building was first officially dedicated on Saturday 24th April 1954 and Conference President Mr Stan Neighbour and Mr Jim Reid addressed the crowded chapel for the first time. The first Sunday meeting was held running two services with 100 people. 117 students attended the children’s Bible School on that first Sunday. A Bible College student, Doug Holloway was the first pastor and in 1955 he was succeeded by James Reid.

In 1957, a hall extension was added to the south of the original building. With the continuing need for more space, a chapel was built in 1975, again with the help of volunteers. In 1991, the original rear hall was removed and rebuilt with all facilities now under one extended roof-line. In 2008 we saw the launch of Vision 2015. The existing building, along with the old YACC and 25 Dunstan Street, was demolished in 2009 to prepare for a new building that would be large enough to house God’s ministry in the coming years. In 2012, Clayton Church of Christ opened its new building to an emotional homecoming service.

A fuller history can be viewed here.