FROM THE ARCHIVES #1: The Greening Room 

The church building contains a large room at the back, which for a number of years served as the church's main venue for meetings. It is called "The Greening Room", the name given to it at the opening of the church in February 1929. The room was financed by a donation equivalent to $1,000 (a considerable sum of money at the time) from Mrs Bessie Greening in memory of her husband, 
Mr James Greening, who died in May 1924. 

At the time of his death, Mr Greening had been a member of the Bathurst Street Church in Sydney (described, at the time, as "the mother church") for 38 years and a Deacon of the church for 21 years. He was widely respected in Baptist circles. A tribute to him, written by his pastor, the Rev. John Complin, appeared in The

James and Bessie Greening

Australian Baptist of 13 May 1924.  One connection with this church is evident in the following extract from Rev. Complin's tribute: 

At the time of his death, Mr Greening had been a member of the Bathurst Street Church in Sydney (described, at the time, as "the mother church") for 38 years and a Deacon of the church for 21 years. He was widely respected in Baptist circles. A tribute to him, written by his pastor, the Rev. John Complin, appeared in The Australian Baptist of 13 May 1924. 

One connection with this church is evident in the following extract from 
Rev. Complin's tribute: 

At the grave Rev. Douglas Mill read the scriptures. Rev. A. J. Waldock* delivered an inspired address in which he referred to the unostentatious devotion of our departed brother and emphasized for the comfort of those left behind, the blessed words of our Lord: "Let not your heart be troubled". 

[* Dr Waldock was Superintendent of Church Missions at the time. In that capacity he was the driving force behind the establishment of Canberra Baptist. He later became the first Minister of Canberra Baptist, and served in that capacity from 1929 to 1948.] 

The Australian Baptist article also contains an extract from a letter to 
Rev.  Complin by Mr Joseph Palmer, which reads as follows:

The high regard in which Mr Greening was held was indicated in the wide range of people attending the interment at Randwick Cemetery. These included the
 Rev. W. P. Phillips, President of the Baptist Union of NSW; the 
Rev. Dr A. J. Waldock, Superintendent of Home Missions; Rev. Douglas Mill, Secretary of Foreign Missions; Rev. John Complin, Minister of Bathurst Street Baptist Church; and Rev. James Barker, a former Minister of Bathurst Street Baptist Church. A number of Sydney churches were also represented, as were several organizations. 

Listed among the mourners were Mr Percy and Mrs Ethel Evans, son-in-law and daughter of Mr James Greening, the parents of our much loved member, 
Mr Norm Evans, who is a grandson of James Greening.   

R.W.Hughes