Ocean Grove, VIC - Uniting
Year Built: 1888
Denomination: Uniting
Address: Corner The Parade & Eggleston Street, Ocean Grove, Victoria, 3226
Previous Denomination: Methodist
Architect: A.J. Derrick
Traditional Owners: Wadawurrung people
Last Updated: 08/07/2023
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History and Architecture:
The Methodist Church purchased 549 acres of land from the Bank of New South Wales in 1887. This was then subdivide into 2,500 blocks and sold off. On 1 January 1888 the first Wesleyan Church service was held in the Coffee Palace.
On 23 December 1888 the first service was held in the new Gothic styled church.
It was resolved to build a weatherboard church. The tender of Messrs Nelson and Guille was accepted and a neat Gothic structure was opened on 23rd December 1888, with special services conducted by the Rev. Thomas Grove. The building, designed by A.J. Derrick, cost £600 and could seat 250 people. A Sunday School was opened in 1889.
By 1909 the Sunday School was forced to close, but restarted in 1937. In 1927 the loans were finally liquidated, and in 1954 the rear of the church was extended to include a vestry.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 - 1890 | Rev Martin Dyson | WM | 1830 | 1910 |
| 1890 - 1893 | Rev J. H. Inghan | WM | ||
| 1893 - 1895 | Rev J. Adams | WM | ||
| 1895 - 1896 | Rev J. B. Smith | WM | 1829 | 1903 |
| 1896 - 1899 | Rev A. J. Collocott | WM | ||
| 1899 - 1902 | Rev E Orlando Knee | WM | 1847 | 1915 |
| 1902 - 1903 | Rev Arthur F. White | M | 1862 | 1926 |
| 1903 - 1906 | Rev James Lowe | M | 1848 | 1932 |
| 1906 - 1910 | Rev J. A. Osbourne | M | ||
| 1910 - 1912 | Rev J. T. Kerns | M | ||
| 1912 - 1916 | Rev F. C. Vian | M | ||
| 1916 - 1919 | Rev B. Williams | M | ||
| 1919 - 1921 | Rev J. Snell | M | ||
| 1921 - 1923 | Rev E. V. Bond | M | ||
| 1923 - 1929 | Rev W. C. Tippett | M | ||
| 1929 - 1935 | Rev F. Flentje | M | ||
| 1935 - 1941 | Rev F. Stanley | M | ||
| 1941 - 1944 | Rev A. Bligh | M | ||
| 1944 - 1947 | Rev O. Harris | M | ||
| 1947 - 1953 | Rev Leslie D. Smith | M | ||
| 1953 - 1958 | Rev A. E. Chancellor | M | ||
| 1958 - 1960 | Rev O. Furness | M | ||
| 1960 - 1965 | Rev F. Savage | M | ||
| 1965 - 1970 | Rev H. Pagdin | M | ||
| 1970 - 1977 | Rev G. Fletcher | M | ||
| 1977 - 1985 | Rev K. Kynoch | U | ||
| 1985 - 1986 | Rev R. B. Lade | U | ||
| 1986 - | Rev J. W. Rankin | U | ||
| - 2017 | Rev Ian Porter | U | ||
| 2017 - 2019 | Rev Jong Soo Park | U | ||
| 2019 - | Rev Rober Thomas | U |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. Methodist Church of Australasia Ministerial Index
2. Church newsletter