Donald, VIC Methodist (Former)
Year Built: 1914
Denomination: Wesleyan Methodist
Address: 20 McCulloch Street, Donald, Victoria, 3480
Architect: James Irvine
Traditional Owners: Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia people
Last Updated: 06/06/2023
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History and Architecture:
The first services were held in the home of Mr Thomas Bath at Swanwater West prior to 1873 and were services conducted by Ministers from St Arnaud. There were local Methodist churches in Swanwater, Jeffcott and Avon.
A Church for Donald was also under consideration but an effort to raise subscriptions in November 1876 was not sucessful. However on August 11 1878 the first Wesleyan Methodist church was opened.
This Church of locally made bricks, and seating 120 persons was opened on Sunday 11th August, 1878 - the occasion being marked by three services conducted at 11am by Reverend D.A. Gilsenan and at 3pm and 6.30pm by Rev. R.O. Cook, Superintendent of the St.Arnaud Circuit. Documents under the Foundation stone state that the architect of the building was Mr. James Irvin of Ararat, the contractor Mr. J. R. Hornsby, and the contract price £1,468. After the laying of the Foundation Stone, a banquet was held in St. George's Hall. This Hall is now occupied by Dalgety's office; and the adjoining shop.
The current church was built in 1914 with the final stage completed in 1965.
Clergy:
These names are now in the Database and can be searched individually.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1872 - 1873 | Rev David S Lindsay | 1842 | 1916 | |
| 1874 - 1876 | Rev Ralph Brown | From St Arnard | ||
| 1876 - 1877 | Rev William Reed | From St Arnard | ||
| 1877 - 1879 | Rev R Osborne Cook | From St Arnard | ||
| 1878 - 1879 | Rev D A. Gilsenan | From St Arnard | ||
| 1880 - | Rev E. C De Garis | From St Arnard | ||
| 1880 - | Rev James S.H. Royce | From St Arnard | 1829 | 1907 |
| 1881 - 1883 | Rev C. Angwin | From St Arnard | 1828 | 1904 |
| 1884 - 1886 | Rev Francis Jolly | From St Arnard | 1859 | 1929 |
| 1886 - | Rev S C Flockhart | From St Arnard | ||
| 1887 - | Rev William J. Palamountain | From St Arnard | 1863 | 1935 |
| 1888 - 1889 | Rev Henry C Farley | From St Arnard | 1859 | 1917 |
| 1890 - 1892 | Rev G Angwin | |||
| 1893 - 1894 | Rev E Orlando Knee | 1847 | 1915 | |
| 1896 - 1898 | Rev Lewis Jones Rowlands | 1855 | 1934 | |
| 1899 - 1902 | Rev Arthur F White | 1862 | 1926 | |
| 1902 - | Rev Geo Tregear | |||
| 1905 - | Rev J Adams | |||
| 1906 - 1908 | Rev E Turner | 1838 | 1915 | |
| 1909 - 1911 | Rev F T.H. Flentje | |||
| 1912 - 1914 | Rev Joseph C Freeman | 1854 | 1915 | |
| 1915 - 1917 | Rev R Osborne Cook | |||
| 1918 - 1920 | Rev John M Catterall | 1873 | 1922 | |
| 1921 - 1924 | Rev J. W. Crean | |||
| 1925 - 1927 | Rev G. S. Lloyd | |||
| 1928 - 1932 | Rev Percy O Parnaby | 1971 | ||
| 1933 - 1934 | Rev A Bligh | |||
| 1935 - 1939 | Rev Arthur D Lelean | |||
| 1940 - 1943 | Rev Oliver Harris | |||
| 1944 - 1948 | Rev Edwin B Bond | |||
| 1949 - 1953 | Rev H M Knuckley | |||
| 1954 - 1957 | Rev W. J. Ormandy | |||
| 1958 - 1963 | Rev R. J. Anderson | |||
| 1958 - | Rev K D Grove | 1958 | ||
| 1964 - 1969 | Rev M T Coombe | |||
| 1970 - 1974 | Rev David A Rayment | |||
| 1975 - | Rev Ian D Porter |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Progress through Faith, A History of Methodism in the Donald District. LTP 287.9458 P83D
2. Photo from A Brief History of the Methodist Church Donald 1878 - 1970 LD LTP 287.0994581 D71P