Wollongong, NSW - City Central Presbyterian
Year Built: 1937
Denomination: Presbyterian
Address: 33 Burelli Street, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2500
Architect: Unknown
Last Updated: 10/08/2024
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History and Architecture:
A plaque on a stone reads, " This stone is from the original Presbyterian Church, which was the first church in Wollongong, and was situated on the north-western corner of Crown & Church streets. The site was given by Charles Throsby Smith Esq., September, 1837. The present site was donated by William Lang Esq., December, 1935. This plaque is a memorial to the Presbyterian pioneers who founded and have maintained St Andrew's from 1837. September 1977.
A further plaque reads, " Unveiled to the Glory of God by The Right Rev. A.C. Grieve B.A. Moderator 31st July 1937 - This stone was part of the Oringinal Church Founded by the Rev. John Tait 27th Sept 1837".
Mr Tait received a present of a half-acre block from Mr Charles Throsby Smith, at the corner of Crown and Church Streets. He obtained subscriptions for the erection of a church building, and in May 1838 plans were prepared by James Hulme, a Sydney architect.
The foundation stone was laid on 31 July, 1937, by the Moderator, the Right Reverend A.C. Grieve, a past member of the Congregation. The building was opened by a previous Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, the Very Reverend Dr. R.G. MacIntyre, on 19 February, 1938. The minister at the time was Reverend Marshall S. Campbell.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1837 - 1841 | Rev John Tait | |||
| 1841 - 1864 | Rev Cunningham Atchieson | |||
| 1879 - 1883 | Rev Robert Hope Waugh | |||
| 1903 - 1921 | Rev Donald MacKay Barnett | |||
| 1912 - 1913 | Rev Joseph Faulkner | Home Mission | 1886 | 1948 |
| 1922 - 1926 | Rev Hugh Charles Wilson | 1883 | 1948 | |
| 1927 - 1933 | Rev William Duffy | 1875 | 1959 | |
| 1934 - 1941 | Rev Dr Marshall Stopford Campbell | 1891 | 1968 | |
| 1942 - 1949 | Rev C. E. Turnball | |||
| 1943 - 1943 | Rev William Henry Stott | Asst | 1919 | 1991 |
| 1948 - 1964 | Rev Charles Thomas Knibb | Asst 48 | 1914 | 1996 |
| 1950 - 1951 | Rev James Bruce | Home Mission Asst | 1931 | 2000 |
| 1963 - 1964 | Rev Desmond Hugh Robinson | Home Mission | 1930 | 2004 |
| 1964 - 1973 | Rev Robert Anderson Caldwell | 1922 | 2003 | |
| 1965 - 1966 | Rev Leslie Charles Hewitt | |||
| 1967 - | Rev Charles Robert Thomas | |||
| 1974 - 1981 | Rev Ivan Cox | 1930 | 1981 | |
| 1978 - 1984 | Rev Robert McGregor Grant | Associate | ||
| 1982 - 1986 | Rev Jack James Knapp | 1935 | 2022 | |
| 1987 - 1996 | Rev David Lindsay Ferrington | 1927 | 2016 | |
| 1998 - 2005 | Rev Bruce Hammonds | |||
| 2006 - 2009 | Rev Grandville Pillar | |||
| 2024 - | Rev Brett Richardson | approx date |
Organ:
A pipe organ was installed at a cost of £1,700.
Source:
1. Church Website.
2. Biographical Register of Presbyterian Ministers in Australia 1901-1977 New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia with permission Rowland Ward and Malcolm Prentis.