Doncaster, VIC - Church of Christ

Year Built: 1956

Denomination: Church of Christ

Address: Doncaster Road, Doncaster, Victoria, 3108

Architect: Unknown

Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri people

Last Updated: 31/12/2021

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History and Architecture:

The first service was held in the home of Thomas Porter senr on Sunday August 30 1863. In addition to the meetings at the Porter home, gospel services were held in the Chapel owned by the Baptists who had discontinued meetings. The Church commenced in 1863 and by 1864 a small weatherboard chapel was built on the present site. In 1889 a brick chapel was opened.

Meanwhile during 1888 - 1889, there was rising interest in a new building project, and by June, 1888, over £500 had been promised, so that a meeting on July 19 was encouraged to decide "that the rising importance of the township and the probable increase of inhabitants justify the church in going to the expense of a building costing about £1,000, of a style in keeping with that of the State School opposite."

Six months later, more cautious counsels prevailed, and it was decided to spend only £600, removing the old weatherboard building to the rear of the new brick chapel to serve as vestry and schoolroom. Later still, the dimensions of the new chapel were fixed at 26 ft. x 30 ft., and the actual building was begun.

For a time, services were held in the State School (at a rental of 5/- per week) until the new chapel was opened with special services on October 8 and 10, 1889.

In July 1953, the important decision was made to favour the building of a new chapel. Several alternative proposals were discussed over the next couple of years, but intensive work by church officers, trustees, building, and finance committees resulted in the acceptance of a plan bv Joseph Smith (architect), the beginning. of operations by the builder R. J. Grills), and the laying of the foundation stone on August 26, 1956, by the former church secretary, Thomas Petty.

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
1881 - 1886 Rev Thomas H. Bates
1886 - 1887 Rev Henry Fullwood
1887 - 1889 Rev Robert George Cameron
1889 - Rev W. T. Clapham
1889 - 1890 Rev Thomas H. Bates
1891 - 1896 Rev David Amos Ewers
1897 - Rev H. D. Mahon
1898 - 1899 Rev Joseph Pittman
1899 - 1903 Rev Fred Wilson Greenwood
1903 - Rev A. M. Ludbrook
1903 - Rev William Williamson
1904 - 1908 Rev Henry D. Smith
1909 - 1910 Rev Gifford Gordon Visiting from USA
1910 - 1911 Rev W. G. Oram
1911 - 1914 Rev James Ernest Allan
1915 - 1918 Rev George Day Verco 1950
1918 - 1923 Rev W. L. Jones
1923 - 1927 Rev Clarence L. Lang 1971
1927 - 1933 Rev Herbert Hargraves
1933 - 1941 Rev Andrew W. Connor 1942
1941 - 1948 Rev Russell A. Banks
1948 - Rev George T. Black Interim
1948 - 1950 Rev L. E. Dudley
1950 - 1956 Rev Frederick Bart Burtt 1999
1956 - 1957 Rev Herbert Hargraves Part Time
1957 - 1963 Rev Clifford Gordon Taylor
1963 - Rev Harold Steele Asst
1963 - Rev Brian Ricketts Asst
1964 - 1970 Rev Joseph G. Shaw
1971 - Rev Alfred E. White
1972 - 1984 Rev Keith Horne
1985 - 1986 Rev Glen Wegner Interim
1985 - 1986 Rev Greg Shaw
1987 - 1990 Rev Dr Lewis Born
1991 - 2002 Rev Paul Cameron
2002 - 2015 Rev Russell Croxford
2015 - 2017 Pastor Simon Clemow Acting Senior
2017 - Rev Jim Catford

Organ:

No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.

Contributions:

1. Rev Simon Clemow for extract from Doncaster Church of Christ 150 years of Faith Hope and Love

Source:

1. Centenary Souvenir Church of Christ Doncaster Vic, 1863 - 1963 LTP 286.694511 C 41 C
2. Doncaster Church of Christ 150 years of Faith Hope and Love, Kerrie Handasyale. Aust Church of Christ Historical Society. ISBN 9780987078629