Poowong, VIC - Uniting
Year Built: 1878
Denomination: Uniting
Address: Lang Lang Road, Poowong, Victoria, 3988
Previous Denomination: Methodist
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Bunurong people
Last Updated: 07/04/2022
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History and Architecture:
Formerly a Wesleyan Methodist Church. The first service was held in 1878 after the church was built in the same year. Gothic is style however the square windows did not enhance that style. These were replaced to enhance a more Gothic style when the weatherboards were replaced. In 1890 the transept was added and tenders for the enlargement of the Church have not yet been accepted. No accurate information is available as to cost of these alterations, but it was assumed probable cost was expected to be about £120. "At this time the old pulpit - cupboard -manufactured from the organ case was relegated to oblivion and a beautiful blackwood pulpit and Communion rail procured. The windows in the transept were the realising of a desire of the pioneer preacher that a faint measure of the beauty which graced the churches in which he worshipped in his boyhood, should be reproduced in the little church in Poowong.
The Choir gallery was added in 1905 at a cost of 9.6.6 while the fences around the church were added in 1950.
The current Church was opened in 1956.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 - 1882 | Rev Daniel Gunson | M | ||
| 1882 - 1883 | Rev R. W. Dean | M | ||
| 1883 - 1884 | Rev J. Smith | M | ||
| 1884 - 1886 | Rev W. H. Scurr | M | ||
| 1886 - 1887 | Rev Francis Wood | M | ||
| 1887 - 1888 | Rev Charles Angwin | M | ||
| 1888 - 1889 | Rev Jolly | M | ||
| 1889 - 1891 | Rev Charles Reed | M | ||
| 1891 - 1892 | Rev C. Jones | M | ||
| 1892 - 1902 | Rev George Godbehear | M | 1953 | |
| 1902 - 1903 | Rev George S. Lloyd | M | 1863 | 1947 |
| 1903 - 1904 | Rev George Godbehear | M | 1953 | |
| 1904 - 1905 | Rev West | M | ||
| 1905 - 1906 | Rev A. H. Mitchell | M | ||
| 1906 - 1907 | Rev H. Polkinghorne | M | ||
| 1907 - 1909 | Rev Bill T. McPherson | M | 1884 | 1914 |
| 1909 - 1911 | Rev E. J. Stranger | M | ||
| 1911 - 1912 | Rev C. Mapperson | M | ||
| 1912 - 1913 | Rev A. E. Taylor | M | ||
| 1913 - 1915 | Rev G. H. Burchett | M | ||
| 1915 - 1916 | Rev J. T. Freeman | M | ||
| 1916 - 1919 | Rev W. H. Watkins | M | ||
| 1919 - 1921 | Rev G. Hawker | M | ||
| 1921 - 1923 | Rev R. Jackson | M | ||
| 1923 - 1924 | Rev L. H. Leverington | M | ||
| 1924 - 1928 | Rev Joseph R. Orton | M | 1795 | 1842 |
| 1928 - 1929 | Rev W. E. Oliver | M | ||
| 1929 - 1930 | Rev Thomas | M | ||
| 1930 - 1933 | Rev G. Boyd | M | ||
| 1933 - 1936 | Rev David S. Lindsay | M | 1842 | 1916 |
| 1936 - 1939 | Rev Albert Briggs | M | ||
| 1939 - 1940 | Rev A. M. Perry | M | ||
| 1940 - 1943 | Rev G. A. Hobson | M | ||
| 1943 - 1945 | Rev J. A. Fullerton | M | ||
| 1945 - 1947 | Rev Charles J. King | M | ||
| 1947 - 1949 | Rev L Roberts | M | ||
| 1949 - 1952 | Rev A. H. Freeman | M | ||
| 1952 - 1956 | Rev J. Dickinson | M | ||
| 1956 - 1957 | Rev W. E. Barnes | M | ||
| 1957 - 1960 | Rev A. Baker | M | ||
| 1960 - 1963 | Rev L. H. Leverington | M | ||
| 1963 - 1968 | Rev H. Gowty | M | ||
| 1968 - 1971 | Rev N. E. Hallowes | M | ||
| 1971 - 1973 | Rev C. B. Hogan | M | ||
| 1973 - 1974 | Rev D. Pascall | M | ||
| 1974 - | Rev Alex Palmer | M | ||
| 2010 - | Rev Sue & Gavin Sharpe | U |
Organ:
The first organ was purchased from Allan and Co in 1900 at a cost of £32 and paid off over 2 years. The current organ was imported from America in 1911 by Mr E.W. Greenwood and re built in 1960.
Source:
1. Methodist Church of Australasia Ministerial Index
2. A Heritage of Worship A History of the Poowong Methodist Church C.B. Hartnell