St John's Anglican Church
By Heather Trigg, edited by Calvin Tromp.
It was in November 1865 that a meeting was held of residents living near the Grand Junction Hotel in order to build a church. Present was Rev Allanby, Messrs Bacchus, Lindsell, Perrse (owner of the Grand Junction), Cox, Chalmers, Umbers and Wiliams. Mr Lindsell proposed "that it is desirable to erect a church near this place for the the conduct of public worship according to the rites of the Church of England."
In 1866 land was purchased and in December of that year it was decided that the town needed a school that would double as a church on weekends, "a building of wood with a chimney be erected without delay." The building was completed and opened in September 1867. It was lined with soft wood, and timber was purchased to make the desks and seats. Later the Education Department built the bluestone school and this building became the Sunday School. It remains a well maintained and loved building to this day.
In 1866 land was purchased and in December of that year it was decided that the town needed a school that would double as a church on weekends, "a building of wood with a chimney be erected without delay." The building was completed and opened in September 1867. It was lined with soft wood, and timber was purchased to make the desks and seats. Later the Education Department built the bluestone school and this building became the Sunday School. It remains a well maintained and loved building to this day.
Meanwhile the committee progressed on the building of a stone church, the proposal size being 25 x 40 feet, hardwood floor, shingle roof and walls 18 feet high and 18 inches thick. A Ballarat architect, Mr Henry Casseli, was appointed - he was responsible for many beautiful churches in the district.
In 1867 the foundations were first laid and walls built. Payments were made to a contractor, Mr H Button. It took two years to build the church and along the way changes were made, such as the roof was covered with slate instead of shingles. Finally on 25 April 1869 St Johns was dedicated for worship at a ceremony conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon Stretch of Geelong, assisted by the Reverend Christopher Gibson Allanby.
St Johns was part of the parish of Brown Hill. By 1875, Rev Allanby had organised the formation of six churches in the Brown Hill parish, the other churches being St Marks of Brown Hill, St Davids of Warrenheip, St James of Little Bendigo, St Lukes of Pootilla and St Peters of Musk Creek.
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