HISTORY OF SUNBURY UNITING CHURCH

(click to enlarge pictures)

Sunbury, a town with 30,000 people, is located thirty-five minutes north-west of the Melbourne GPO. The community in which it is situated is a mix of the population, including older members and young families (including many single parent families).

Sunbury was settled in 1836 by Messrs William and Samuel Jackson. In 1851 the surveyors were engaged in laying out the township. The first place of worship in Sunbury appears to have been the Roman Catholic Church, which was built in 1860. A couple of years later the Anglican and Presbyterian congregations were found to be sharing a hall built by the Mount Alexander Railway Contractors.

THE PRESBYTERIAN TRADITION

In 1864 the first official documented meeting of the Managing Committee was held. The gentleman present were Chairman - Mr W Ramsay, Secretary - Mr J F Rankin, Treasurer - Mr John Eadie and Mr W Batchelor - committee member. The first minister was the Rev J Lambie under whose care the congregation prospered greatly. 

At one time, the old hall held a great bell for ringing out the morning services. Unfortunately, it was taken down in 1866, as after a time it was found to shake the building too much.

The first Sunday School records begin in 1870.  In 1870 the old hall in which the congregation were meeting was becoming unfit for use, so a new weatherboard chapel was built at a cost of  175 pounds.  In 1874 a vestry was added, including a beautiful pulpit of polished cedar.  In the same year the Presbyterian Hymn book was introduced, the Psalms only having been used before.

The Presbyterian Kirk Session was instituted in 1905, members being - Mr James Gilchrist, Mr W R McKenzie, Mr Joseph Campbell, Rev D Mathews, Messrs MA, BD & FW Balfour and Mr A W Jamieson.

In 1904 a new red brick church was built at a cost of 1100 pounds. It boasted Romanesque architecture, wrought iron gates, surmounted by gable, with a large rose tracery window glazed with cathedral glass.  The roof was supported by carved hammer beams of Californian red pine, and ceiled with kauri.  It was first lighted with Acetylene gas, until electricity was installed in 1912.

In 1986  the church was found to have structural instability and soil and drainage problems. The old manse was demolished, and the church was extended to the circular shaped building we see today.  It sits in the middle of a peaceful village green, surrounded by old trees, and green lawns.

In the year 2000 we have replaced most of the old pews with comfortable chairs, and have recarpeted our front altar and foyer areas, to make the church a welcoming, outreaching and comfortable place of worship.

THE METHODIST TRADITION

The Methodist Church building is of local heritage significance to the township of Sunbury, and the Hume City Council supports endeavours to ensure that it is preserved. It was constructed in 1878 on the corner of Harker and Barkly Streets. It has pointed gothic windows, pilasters and a classically pitched roof.  Its picturesque domestic gothic bargeboards are a distinctive feature of the building.

The beginnings of Methodism in Sunbury centred on prayer meetings held in the home of Hermon and Elizabeth Smith in approximately 1864. The house, now demolished, was built on land on the east corner of Barkly and Harker Streets, directly opposite the present day church.

In 1879 John Browning (Elizabeth Smith's brother) gave land to the Methodist Church on which the church was duly built. One of the trustees included Thomas Woods, whose descendant Theo Woods still lives in Sunbury today. The small wooden chapel was used as a Sunday School building beside the church.

In 1952 the Methodist church was unfortunately not able to sustain the presence of a resident minister. The wooden chapel was demolished many years ago, and part of this land is now housing the Housing Commission Units in Barkly Street.

THE UNITING CHURCH

The congregation began in the area in 1864 as St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and had strong ties over the years with the Methodist Church. The two congregations became one in 1955 (22 years before the Uniting Church came into being). The congregation of St. Andrew’s Bulla was, until recently, part of the two-congregation Parish.

Sources: Jubilee History of St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Sunbury, November 1913