Nowra, NSW - Uniting

Year Built: 1877

Denomination: Uniting

Address: 29 Berry Street, Nowra, New South Wales, 2541

Previous Denomination: Methodist

Architect: Thomas Rowe

Last Updated: 02/12/2024

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History and Architecture:

First services in this church were conducted on Sunday, August 9, 1857 by Rev. J. Eggleston who was the preacher in both morning and evening, while Rev. Samuel Wilkinson led a service of Holy Communion in the afternoon. The following day Mr Eggleston delivered another sermon, before a public tea meeting attended by 200 people.

The local "News" paper reported that "It was November 25 when the tender for the stonework had been accepted, that of Alex McArthur who had recently completed the Roman Catholic Chapel. Plans had been drawn up by the noted Sydney architect, Colonel Thomas Rowe, and it was intended to start work at an early date, so that the foundation stone could be laid on New Year's Day".

The Foundation stone was laid 1st January 1877. The Rev. James Fletcher, Principal of Newington College at that time, officiated at the laying. The Builder was Mr. Alex MacArthur with a contact price of £900. The Architect was Thomas Rowe. The cost of the roof shingles were split by Mrs. Ruben Mason.

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
1858 - 1861 Rev James H. Somerville M 1815 1899
1861 - 1863 Rev James A. Nolan M
1863 - 1866 Rev Hans Mack M 1831 1890
1866 - 1869 Rev Richard Caldwell M
1869 - 1872 Rev Walter James Davis M 1824 1904
1872 - 1875 Rev James W. Dowson M 1827 1902
1875 - 1878 Rev James Phillips M 1832 1912
1878 - 1880 Rev Kirton A. Corner M 1844 1912
1880 - 1882 Rev R. E. Fletcher M
1882 - 1884 Rev William Glasson M
1884 - 1885 Rev Robert M. Laverty M
1885 - 1888 Rev Charles Jones M
1888 - 1889 Rev Gustavus R. Glasson M 1839 1894
1889 - 1892 Rev E. King M
1892 - 1894 Rev H. W. Princombe M
1894 - 1896 Rev Wiliam H. George M 1840 1907
1896 - 1898 Rev J. F. Orr M 1845 1908
1898 - 1901 Rev Charles H. McCoy M
1901 - 1905 Rev Harold Wheen M 1926
1905 - 1908 Rev Joseph Walker M
1908 - 1912 Rev W. J. Willard M
1912 - 1914 Rev William Arthur. Burns M 1867 1947
1914 - 1917 Rev Francis James Curwood M 1855 1931
1917 - 1921 Rev Samuel C. Roberts M 1864 1936
1921 - 1925 Rev Frederick Hugh McGowan M 1881 1952
1925 - 1930 Rev Leonard M.K. Mills M 1884 1946
1930 - 1934 Rev Ellis Thomas M 1884 1949
1934 - 1938 Rev Arthur T. Newton M
1938 - 1942 Rev Ewart E. Chapman M
1942 - 1946 Rev Jesson Fleming M 1974
1946 - 1952 Rev Edgar Tredinnick M 1977
1952 - 1956 Rev Alexander W. Bray M 1897 1982
1956 - 1958 Rev Keith H.L. Brooks M
1958 - 1962 Rev Lynford Smith M 1995
1963 - 1969 Rev Lloyd F. Manning M
1970 - 1973 Rev G. J. Bickford M
1974 - 1975 Rev Ross Lay M
1976 - 1978 Rev Neville Gray M
1979 - 1986 Rev Colin Garlick U
1980 - 1985 Rev Ron Hallett U
1980 - 1985 Rev Ken Smalle U
1986 - 1988 Rev Jeffrey Joy U
1986 - 1990 Rev Graham Lawrence U
1987 - 1996 Rev Laurie Reed U
1988 - 1989 Rev Alice De Roover U
1990 - 1994 Rev Neville R. White U
1992 - 1998 Rev Ian Weeks U
1996 - Rev Maggie Peereboom U
2021 - Rev Dr Matthew Wilson U 1808 1876

Organ:

No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.

Source:

1. Methodist Church of Australasia Ministerial Index
2. Reyerson Index.
3. Nowra Methodist Church: celebrating the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone 1st January, 1877.