West Tamworth, NSW - Uniting
Year Built: 1888
Denomination: Uniting
Address: 79 Denison Street, West Tamworth, New South Wales, 2340
Previous Denomination: Methodist
Architect: Unknown
Traditional Owners: Kamilaroi & Gomeroi people
Last Updated: 21/04/2024
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History and Architecture:
Just 16 years after the Wesley Church was completed in Tamworth in 1872, steps were taken to build a Church in West Tamworth. In 1888 with Rev. J.G. Middleton as Superintendent Minister, the President of the NSW - Queensland Wesleyan Conference, Rev. George Lane, set the foundation stone of a brick Church in Denison Street on 28th August.
Total cost of the building was £305. and it included purchase of the land, building, organ, gas fittings for lighting, furnishings and painting. The building was of traditional design with exposed front and rear doors. A front porch was added in 1920 as a Victory Porch, following World War 1. This porch was subsequently enlarged into an entrance porch with renovations associated with the establishment of the Children's Centre in 1978.
A sign at the front of the church reads, " The first Methodist service in Tamworth was held in 1849. On 28th August 1888 the foundation stone of the present building was set. One month later the Building was opened. Total cost of land, building and furnishings was £610".
Clergy:
Superintendent Ministers of the Tamworth Circuit. Names can now be searched individually in the database.
| Years | Name | Annotation | D.o.B | D.o.D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1871 - 1872 | Rev James E. Caruthers | M | ||
| 1872 - 1875 | Rev Maurice Gray | M | ||
| 1875 - 1878 | Rev Henry Youngman | M | ||
| 1878 - 1881 | Rev James Phillips | M | ||
| 1881 - 1884 | Rev James W. Dowson | M | ||
| 1884 - 1887 | Rev William Wools Rutledge | M | ||
| 1887 - 1889 | Rev James G. Middleton | M | ||
| 1889 - 1892 | Rev Gustavus R. Glasson | M | ||
| 1892 - 1895 | Rev Charles W. Graham | M | ||
| 1895 - 1898 | Rev Henry Wiles | M | ||
| 1898 - 1901 | Rev Joseph Beale | M | ||
| 1901 - 1904 | Rev John Hulme | M | ||
| 1904 - 1907 | Rev Benjamin Dinning | M | ||
| 1907 - 1909 | Rev William Pearson | M | ||
| 1909 - 1912 | Rev James Colwell | M | 1860 | 1930 |
| 1912 - 1915 | Rev James B. Penman | M | ||
| 1915 - 1917 | Rev W. Mills Robson | M | ||
| 1917 - 1918 | Rev W. Butler | Locum | ||
| 1918 - 1921 | Rev T. Manning Taylor | M | ||
| 1921 - 1925 | Rev Samule W. Bonner | M | ||
| 1925 - 1928 | Rev Percy L. Black | M | ||
| 1928 - 1930 | Rev William H. Cox | M | ||
| 1930 - 1933 | Rev Leonard M.K. Mills | M | ||
| 1933 - 1936 | Rev N. Hedley Parr | M | 1950 | |
| 1936 - 1939 | Rev Samuel McKibbin | M | 1957 | |
| 1939 - 1943 | Rev Frederick H. McGowan | M | 1952 | |
| 1943 - 1947 | Rev Richard C. Barlow | M | 1983 | |
| 1947 - 1951 | Rev Alfred A.T. Robens | M | ||
| 1951 - 1956 | Rev Martin T. Layton | M | ||
| 1956 - 1959 | Rev Arthur I. Buxton | M | ||
| 1960 - 1963 | Rev Henry J. Wilton | M | ||
| 1964 - 1966 | Rev Wilbur S. Chaseling | M | ||
| 1967 - 1972 | Rev Harry T. Graves | M | ||
| 1973 - 1977 | Rev Richard W. Wrightson | M |
Organ:
No information currently available. Submissions welcomed.
Source:
1. West Tamworth Uniting Church Centenary Celebrations 1888 - 1988. Click here to read full document.
2. Ryerson Index.