From The Archives
Turning
the first sod for Waldock Hall –
Rev. Fred McMaster addresses the gathering.
Old Minutes book recovered!
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Until recently the first volume of the minutes of our
Deacons and Church Meetings could not be located. Fortunately it recently
came into my hands and I have been reading it to get a better
understanding of the early history of the church. |
Volume 1 of the minutes contains the records of Deacons
Meetings from 1929 to 1937 and of Church Members Meetings from 1931 to 1957.
The first Deacons meeting was held in the vestry of the
church after the evening service on 7 July 1929; that is, about five months
after the church was officially opened. The
deacons, who were appointed by the Minister, were Messrs W. Lavender, Saunders,
G. Whitlam and H. Ransom.
Mr H. Ransom was appointed the Church Secretary at
this meeting – a post he held until his death in 1957.
Mr George Whitlam was the Uncle of Gough Whitlam.
He and Mr H.L.Walters were largely responsible for getting the church
congregation together between 1927 and 1929, conducting services (held at the
old Presbyterian Church Hall at Braddon each second Sunday evening) and keeping
Dr Waldock informed on what was happening.
The first time deacons were actually elected by the church
members was at the first meeting of the church, held on 24 June 1931 (a little
more than 2 years after the church opened). The meeting took place in the
Greening Room and 24 church members were present. Three church stewards were
appointed by the meeting to “assist in the church services”. Messrs
Bickford, Rogers and Hays were appointed to this role.
A number of other church offices were also filled at this
meeting and a further meeting held on
29 June 1942 (22 members attended). Mrs B. Watson, Mrs J.H. Hays and Miss V.
Hays were made responsible for preparations for communion services.
Mr S.L. Joyce was appointed the church’s first Treasurer. Mrs M.L.
Ransom was the first church organist. The church’s first organ was donated by
Mrs J.H. Hays.
Some interesting items from the minutes of meetings in the
early life of the church:
-
(10
March 1931) “Mr Lavender reported that the piping required for the water
extension cost four pence per foot [that’s 3 cents for 30 cm].
Owing to the state of the finances the matter of extending the
existing water system was deferred.”
(The financial situation must have been really desperate!)
-
(19
May 1931) “Owing to the increase in attendance at the Kindergarten
Department a discussion as to the best way of providing flooring in the
class rooms under the church took place.” (The flooring was eventually
provided later in 1931 at a cost of 22 pounds [$44.00].)
-
(2
August 1932) The deacons decided to invite Mr A.C. Joyce to fill a casual
vacancy on the Diaconate as soon as his transfer from Canterbury Baptist
Church could be arranged.
-
(2
August 1932) “The Secretary suggested that in view of the fact that only
Mr Barnes and himself attended the prayer meeting prior to the evening service
that the deacons themselves meet in the vestry prior to the church
service.” (And the deacons agreed!)
-
(12
November 1935) “Mr Barnes suggested the using of the Alexander Hymn Books
for evening services but the Pastor expressed the hope that no departure be
made from the church hymnal. Suggestion was not adopted.”
The early Annual Reports of the church were nothing like
the detailed reports that we have become used to these days.
In general, Annual Reports up to about the 1950s were less than 3 roneoed
pages and the information in them was quite basic.
However it is largely the Annual Reports and Minutes of Meetings of the
church where its early written history has been carefully recorded.
By Bill Hughes
Church Archivist
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