Kangaroo Ground, VIC - Presbyterian
Year Built: 1878
Denomination: Presbyterian
Address: Corner Graham & Eltham Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, Victoria, 3097
Architect: Charles Maplestone
Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri people
Last Updated: 28/12/2022
History and Architecture:
From 1843 to 1853 the Rev Gunn conducted church services at regular intervals in the Donaldson's barn in Kangaroo Ground. The school was closely associated with the Church as officially it was Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church School No. 27. By 1853 the name had changed to Scots Church School and by 1854 to Church of Scotland School.
The first formal step to establishing the present church building was in 1872. Mr John Donaldson, son of Mr James Donaldson, donated a quarter acre of land for a new church. The Church records note the original Pulpit Bible (Footnote 9) that the Deed of Conveyance cost £8.18.6.
The building was designed by the architect Mr Charles Maplestone. It was built in 1878 by Mr Self using hand-made bricks and a slate roof. A Celtic Cross surmounted the front gable.
The church of handmade bricks buttressed on both long sides, with a slate roof and a Celtic cross on top of the front gable has changed little since then. The carved wooden pulpit and 18 pews are original and in fine condition. The cathedral style ceiling is fully lined with tongue and groove pine boards and the floor is also of pine. The walls have arched oblong leadlight windows. One window has stained glass commemorating Mrs Jessie Agnes Cameron and her ancestors, the pioneering Bell family.
It was consecrated by Rev A D Kinninmont at a special service held on 9 June 1878.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1843 - 1845 | Rev Peter Gunn | |||
1852 - | Mr William Smith | |||
1853 - 1869 | Rev David S. Boyd | |||
1870 - | Mr Andrew Ross | |||
1871 - | Rev James Cameron | |||
1871 - 1874 | Rev Alexander Mackie | 1839 | 1892 | |
1884 - | Rev Duncan Fraser | |||
1884 - 1887 | Rev Alexander Mackie | 1839 | 1892 | |
1891 - 1898 | Rev Jon Darroch | |||
1899 - | Mr F. G. Holland Brady | |||
1899 - 1903 | Mr William Kerr | |||
1904 - 1905 | Mr H. O'Sullivan | |||
1906 - 1909 | Mr Alexander McLeod | |||
1909 - | Mr James Thompson Kelly | 1878 | 1959 | |
1909 - 1911 | Mr Edward Henry Shugg | 1990 | ||
1911 - | Mr L. B. Drury | |||
1912 - 1915 | Rev John Stewart Drummond | |||
1916 - 1920 | Rev William Chapman | |||
1922 - 1926 | Rev Samuel John Honiball | |||
1927 - 1929 | Mr R. W. Casboult | |||
1929 - 1930 | Mr William Stanley Laity | 1899 | 1956 | |
1931 - | Mr Frederick Eales Brown | |||
1932 - 1934 | Mr Roy Merritt | |||
1935 - 1936 | Mr Joseph Booth | |||
1937 - | Mr Earle Verigan | |||
1938 - | Rev E. W. Crawford | |||
1939 - 1943 | Mr Edward Benjamin Robinson | 1986 | ||
1944 - 1946 | Mr William Harry Littler | |||
1947 - 1949 | Mr William Haddrick | |||
1950 - 1953 | Mr Douglas William Mathews | |||
1953 - 1955 | Mr Donald William Howard | |||
1956 - 1958 | Mr Alfed Charles Milne | |||
1959 - | Rev Roy Vernon Merritt | |||
1960 - 1962 | Mr Neville Place | |||
1963 - 1965 | Mr Alistair Bain Hopkins | |||
1967 - 1968 | Rev Dr William Frederick Paton | 1970 | ||
1969 - 1974 | Rev Dr Robert Bennett John | |||
1975 - | Rev Stuart Campbell Calder | |||
1976 - 1979 | Rev Dr Edwin Jason Norton | |||
1980 - 1985 | Rev Dr Reginald Ross Mathews | |||
1986 - 1987 | Rev Theodor Severin Fishwick | |||
1989 - 1993 | Rev Thomas Kenny Cannon | |||
1995 - 1997 | Rev John Phillip Wilson | |||
1998 - | Rev Ivan Henry Barker | |||
2010 - | Rev Rod Scott | |||
2020 - | Rev Steve Kilner |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Contributions:
1. Kangaroo Ground Museum
Source:
1. The Church Website
2. Nillumbik Now and Then, Margaret Marshall.
3. Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church Early History LPT 285.9451J13K.