Methodist Uniting Church - Shellharbour

DESCRIPTION

NameMethodist Uniting Church - ShellharbourTypeBuildingChurchGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

AddressMary Street, Shellharbour VillageDescriptionJames Dinning built this Church for the Wesleyans. The land for this church was given by Thomas Alexander Reddall and on 3 November 1863, John Graham Snr. laid the foundation stone for the church. Trustees were John Graham Snr, his sons John and Edward, William James, William Harris, Thomas White, Donald Finlayson, John Chin and William Wenham.

The church was built by James Dinning of local basalt stone, and white sandstone quoining freighted free from Sydney by Captain William Baxter of Shellharbour. The original roof was shingled but has since been replaced by 'colorbond'. The pews and pulpit were made of local cedar.

The church opened for worship on Sunday 26 February 1865, when Rev. W. Curnow preached morning and afternoon.

William James, of Shellharbour was heavily involved in the Wesleyan movement. His son Thomas James was a Methodist Circuit Steward, and Thomas' marriage to Rachel Arnold was held at the Shellharbour Methodist Church in 1890. Rachel’s sister Ellen Arnold in 1891, was given a presentation for her duties as organist over the years.

On 16 September 1979 local builder Russell East, completed alterations at the rear of the church, some what detracting from the original chapel architectural style.

In April 2005, this Uniting Church in Mary Street, was renamed Shellharbour Village Uniting Church.

External LinkOpening of the New Wesleyan Church 1865Wesleyan Home Missionary Meeting at Shellharbour 1865The New Wesleyan Church 1864

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