Colac, VIC - Uniting

Year Built: 1877

Denomination: Uniting

Address: Corner Hesse & Manifold Streets, Colac, Victoria, 3250

Previous Denomination: Presbyterian

Architect: Unknown

Traditional Owners: Eastern Maar people

Last Updated: 20/06/2023

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History and Architecture:

Formerly a Presbyterian Church. In 1852 the very firstr chapel Gows Chapel was destroyed by fire. The new church opened on 5 November 1854 on the south east corner of the present site and cost 1,750.00 to erect. By 1876 a new church was needed and a tender of 3,284.00 was accepted from Mr Bullings. The Foundation stone was laid on 19 April 1877 by Mr Andrew Murray. This new church was opened on 16 December 1877.

Clergy:

This list may not contain every serving cleric, past or present, for this church.
Further submissions welcomed.

Years	Name	Annotation
1847 - 1852	Rev John Gow	P
1852 - 1855	Rev Patrick McLaggan	P
1855 - 1866	Rev Hugh Blair	P
1866 -	Rev J. D. Dickie	P
1899 - 1910	Rev John McKenzie	P
1910 - 1916	Rev George B. Murphy	P
1916 - 1922	Rev Karl Forster	P
1922 - 1934	Rev D. D. Munro	P
1934 - 1945	Rev Charles Matear	P
1946 - 1950	Rev Mervyn Roberts	P
1951 - 1960	Rev J. Sydney Smith	P
1960 - 1970	Rev W. B. Hastie	P
1971 -	Rev J. S. Holden	P
1973 - 1976	Rev R. H. Townsend	P
2009 -	Rev Rosslyn Read	U
2023 -	Rev Stephen Ratcliffe	U

Organ:

A cabinet organ was installed around 1877 for a cost of 75.00. The memorial organ was re furbished in 1951.

Source:

1. The Presbyterian Church in Colac 1847 - 1977 LTP 285.94571 C67M