BRISBANE HISTORIC CHURCHES.-XV. THE BAPTIST TABERNACLE. JUBILEE OF THE DENOMINATION. 1855-1905. - Baptist Tabernacle Baptist Church - Spring Hill - QLD - Australia - News Article Locations on Waymarking.com

BRISBANE HISTORIC CHURCHES.---XV.
THE BAPTIST TABERNACLE.
JUBILEE OF THE DENOMINATION.
The jubilee of the first Baptist congre-
gation--and indeed of the denomination in
Queensland--forms a fitting time to glance
back over the years, and place on record
in concrete form something of the good
work which has been accomplished. To-
morrow the members of the parent church
will gather together and celebrate the day
in a handsome and commodious building,
which is indeed " set upon a hill" where
it "cannot be hid," end where stately
architecture subscribes to the glory of
their faith. In these things, however, they
are the inheritors of the fruits of splendid
effort put forth by their fathers during
the half-century which bulks so large in
our Queensland history- effort which has
changed the land from a wilderness to a
prosperous State.
FIRST QUEENSLAND BAPTISTS.
The first body of Baptists to arrive at
the Moreton Bay settlement came in the
ship Fortitude, in 1849, and with members
of other Free Churches they formed the
United Evangelical Church, worshipping
in a building in William-street, which
stood where the Executive buildings have
recently been erected. The story of that
early congregation and its ultimate separa-
tion into distinct Baptist, Presbyterian,
and Congregational Churches has been al-
ready told in this series ; but it is worthy
of mention that the first minister--the
Rev. Charles Stewart, of Birmingham--was
a Baptist. It was not until after ill-health
had caused Mr. Stewart's return to Eng-
land that a desire to separate took con-
crete form. On the 6th August, 1835, it
was resolved to form aBaptist Congrega-
tion, and so the natal month of the de-
nomination was fixed. The arrival in Bris-
bane of several people from the Bathurst
street (Sydney) Church helped the move-
ment forward, encouraged thereto by the
Rev. James Voller, then pastor at
Bathurst-street. At the first meeting a
constitution and rules for the first Bap-
tist congregation in Queensland were
framed and signed by D. R. and Mrs. D.
Somerset, R. A. and Sarah Kingsford,
Thomas and Eliza Clark, William and
Ellen Taylor, Thomas and Harriet Lade,
William and Eliza Grimes, and T. B.
Stephens. The foregoing appear to have
been those present at the first formation
of the congregation, but amongst those
who joined immediately in the movement
and were, with the others, instrumental
in establishing the church, were (Mr.
(afterwards the Rev.) W. and Mrs. Moore,
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, sen., Mr. and Mrs.
Watson, sen., Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Swan,
Mrs. W. Lloyd, jun., and Miss Mary Lloyd,
The first deacons were Messrs. T. B.
Stephens, R. A. Kingsford, William
Grimes, and William Moore. It is believed
flint the Rev William Moore and Mrs.
Moore are the only present survivors of
that old congregation. For several years
members met in the old Police Court build-
ings, and subsequently--by permission of
Mr. Justice Milford--in the Supreme Court
buildings. The Rev. Chas. Smith was their
first pastor, and he cared for the young
flock until November, 1856. After his de-
parture the Rev. R. A. Kingsford, Mr. W.
Moore and Mr. W. Grimes conducted the
services for some time. In the year 1858 a
greater vitality was imparted to the con-
gregation by the arrival of the Rev. B.
G. Wilson and his family, who at once
took charge of services. This worthy
gentleman was a native of Ireland, and
had at one time been a member of the
Society of Friends before entering the
Baptist ministry. He was an energetic
Christian gentleman, possessed of consider-
able medical knowledge which was always
at the disposal of the needy and suffering.
His widow and other members of his family
are still resident in Brisbane. Dur-
ing Mr. Smith's pastorate, a piece of
land had been purchased for the sum of
£125, with the object of building a
church. The site was at the
corner of Adelaide and Wharf streets,
where R. W. Thurlow's premises
are now standing. When Mr. Wilson ar-
rived, a forward movement was soon in-
itiated, and having received their share of
the proceeds from the sale of the United
Evangelical Church property (about £450),
the Baptists set about building a church
for themselves. Mr. John Petrie was in-
trusted with the task of building the
church, which was completed at a cost of
£2000. The opening services were
held on 5th February, 1859, and the
building remained a monument of
the enterprise of our earlier citi-
zens until a few years ago, when it
was sold, and shortly afterwards gave place
to the business premises, of Messrs. R.
W. Thurlow and Co. The stone used in
the front elevation of the Salvation Army
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
REV. JAS. VOLLER, first President
Queensland Baptist Association.
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
REV. A. G. WELLER, President for
Baptist Association, 1904-5.
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
REV. W. PAGE, President for
1905-6.
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
CITY TABERNACLE--INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson.
(As decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. M. Rice).
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON.
Shelter, Ann-street, was taken from the
old Wharf-streect Church building.
The Rev. B. G. Wilson's pastorate so
auspiciously opened, continued to be
marked with considerable success, and the
congregation grew in numbers. In the year
1864, however, one of those unfortunate
disagreements which sometimes arise in
Church fellowships led to the establish-
ment of a second congregation, and a
building situate in Edward-street was
leased by them from the Temperance So-
ciety. The land upon which it stood was
subsequently resumed by the Railway De-
partment when the line was extended (to
the Central Station. For two years this
congregation met under the guidance of
Mr. Ebenezer Hooker, and ultimately it re-
solved itself into two other churches, one
at Fortesque-strcet, and another at Petrie-
terrace. The Fortesque-street Church was
ministered to successively by the Revs.
J. Downing, C. Padley, and J. Glover,
until it in turn ceased to exist. The Rev.
W. Moore assumed the pastorate of the
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH.
Petrle-terrace Church, he being followed
in turn by the Revs. J. Alexander, W.
Taylor, T. Collins, and the present pastor,
the Rev. T. U. Symonds.
BAPTISTS' ASSOCIATION FORMED.
Other churches also sprang up, and on
the 18th October, 1877, a meeting was
held at the Wharf-street Chapel, where
representatives of seven churches form-
ed themselves into the Baptists' As-
sociation of Queensland. Some little time
prior to this, the Rev. James Vollerr,
of the Bathurst-street (Sydney) Church,
had been compelled through voice failure
to relinquish his charge, and he came to
Brisbane. Mr. Voller settled at Enogerra,
where he devoted himself to fruit-growing.
He took an active interest in the
progress of the Queensland Churches, being
instrumental in establishing the Enoggera,
Sandgate, and Taringa congregations.
When the Baptist Association was
formed, Mr. Voller was elected the first
president. It is worthy of mention here
that on the occasion of the Rev. Mr.
Voller's first visit to Brisbane he was
the first in the history of Queensland to
administer the ordinance of believers' bap-
tism. The ceremony took place at the
waterholes which were then in existence
near what is now the market reserve in
Albert-street. Two young men were bap-
tised on that occasion. Others of the
first officers of the association were
the Rev. B. G. Wilson (vice-presi-
dent), Messrs. James Grimes (trea-
surer), Rev. John Kingsford and Mr.
H. G. Cray (secretaries), Messrs. R. B.
Hall and A. A. Grimes (auditors), Revs.
B. G. Wilson, J. Kingsford, and J.
Straughen. and Messrs. J. Grimes, W.
Bell, A. Street, and E. Gregory (committee
of advice), Messrs. W. Bell, S. Burdett,
G. H. Buzacott, T. Church, J. S. Denham,
W. D. Grimes, sen., J. Jenyns, W.
Knight, J. Leach, S. Oliver. E. Saunders,
and T. Woolley (general committee).
Just twenty-two years had elapsed from
the time the first distinct Baptists' con-
gregation had been formed in Queensland,
yet the Churches which joined the asso-
ciation were Wharf-street, with preaching
stations at German Station, Sandgate, and
Enoggera, joined in 1855 ; Jireh Church
(Valley), joined 1801, Rev. J. Kingsford ;
Fortescue-street joined 1865, and, with a
vacant pulpit at the formation of the
association ; Petrie-terrace joined 1870,
Rev. W. Moore ; Ebenezer, Waterworks
road, joined 1877, Rev. T. Leitch ; Ips-
wich, with Rosewood Scrub, Racecourse,
and Sally Owen's Plains preaching sta-
'tions, joined 1860. Rev. J. Straughen ;
Rockhampton, with North Rockhampton
established 1862, Rev T. W. I'Erson ; Too-
woomba, with Meringandan and High-
fields, joined 1875, Rev. J. Macpherson.
The constitution of the new association
specially preserved the independence of
each Church, but a feeling has since
grown in favour of granting legislative
powers to the association. A new consti-
tution having this object in view will be
considered during the coming week. The
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. REV. G. M. RICE, Pastor City Tabernacle. Help
OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH.
seven Churches which originally joined the
association have since grown to thirty-two,
in addition to which there is an increasing
number of branch Churches or preaching
stations.
CONTINUED GROWTH.
Meanwhile much blessing seems to have
attended the work of the Rev. Mr. Wilson
in the parent Church, where he ministered
for twenty years, and on the 11th Feb-
ruary, 1878, he was called to his rest.
An interregnum of eleven months fol-
lowed, during which the idea of securing
a new minister from the old land was en-
tertained, Mr. Hooker meanwhile conduct-
ing the services to the satisfaction of all.
The Rev. Henry Coombs, of Melbourne,
however, at this time attracted notice bv
the ability he had shown during a short
visit to Brisbane, and an offer of the
pastorate having been made to him, he ac-
cepted. This gentleman commenced his
labours on the 19th January, 1879. Under
his guidance the congregation again began
to increase rapidly in numbers. As a re-
sult, additions, planned by Mr. R. Gailey,
architect, were carried out, and the seat-
ing accommodation was increased to 500
persons, £1800 being spent on the work. In
September, 1885, the good pastor, who had
done so much for the congregation, suf-
fered a breakdown in health, which was
attributed to over-exertion during a time
of great sickness amongst the people. As
a result he was compelled to resign, and
again the pulpit was vacant.
REV. W. WHALE.
Through the good offices of Dr. Landels,
the vacancy was accepted by the Rev.
William Whale, of Middlesboro, York-
shire, a gentleman who was destined to
work much good for this State to the
close of his life. Mr. Whale with his family
arrived in Brisbane on the 5th October,
1885, and was not long in identifying him-
self with the religious, charitable, and pro-
gressive life of the community. A brief
sketch of his career shows that the rev.
REV. JA8. VOLLER, first President Queensland Baptist Association. REV. A. O. WELLER, Président Baptist Association, 1904-5. REV. W. PAGE, President for 1905-6. CITY TABERNACLE-INTERIOR- (Photo, by Ferguson, CAb decorated for Welcome to Rev. G. NI. Rice). JIREH CHURCH, VALLEY : REV. J. E. WALTON. WINDSOR-ROAD CHURCH: REV. T. LEITCH. OLD WHARF-STREET CHURCH. CITY TABERNACLE. (Photo, by Ruddle. REV. B. G. WILSON. REV. W. WHALE. REV. H. COOMBS. VULTURE8TREET CHURCH : REV. W,., COOLE, _. .. RE

Type of publication: Newspaper When was the article reported?: 09/05/1905 Publication: The Brisbane Courier Article Url: [Web Link] Is Registration Required?: no How widespread was the article reported?: regional News Category: Arts/Culture

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