Collins Street Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collins Street Baptist Church |
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Collins Street Baptist Church
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| 37°48′53″S 144°58′04″E / 37.8148°S 144.9677°E | |
| Country | Australia |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Consecrated | 1862 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Joseph Reed |
| Style | Greek Revival |
Collins Street Baptist Church is a historic Baptist church found on Collins Street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's connected to the Australian Baptist Ministries. Started in 1843, it's the oldest Baptist church in Victoria and has been open longer than any other Baptist church in Australia.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
The very first Baptist service in Melbourne happened in 1838. It was held in a tent on an empty piece of land. This spot was across from where the church is now. The first small church building was put up on the current site in 1845.
In the late 1850s, people decided to make the church bigger. The building you see today opened in 1862. It was designed by a company called Reed & Barnes. Joseph Reed was the main architect. He also designed the famous Melbourne Town Hall. He designed many other important churches in Melbourne too.
Most churches in Melbourne from that time look like old castles. They are either Gothic or Romanesque in style. But Collins Street Baptist Church looks like an ancient Greek temple. It has four tall Corinthian columns at the front. This design shows that Baptists believe the church is about people coming together. It's not just about a fancy building.
Inside the Church Building
Baptists usually like churches to be simple inside. So, the walls of this church are plain and white. It has windows with rounded tops and two walkways. The seats are on the sides, facing the pulpit. The pulpit is a raised stand where the minister speaks. It's placed in the middle to show that reading and preaching God's Word are very important.
The seats are set up in a "U" shape around the pulpit. This way, everyone can see and hear well. There isn't much decoration inside. You might see some details on the windows. There is also some carving on the pulpit and the Communion table. In the past, there were no crosses or symbols in the church. But that has changed over time.
Early Baptist traditions didn't always include music in church. However, a small organ was put in the church in 1854. A much bigger organ was added in 1885. This organ was fixed up and made even larger in 1974.
The church's land goes all the way to Little Collins Street. A meeting room called Central Hall was built there in 1852. Later, in 1928, a new Central Hall was built on the ground floor. This was part of an extension to the Victoria Palace hotel next door. In 1929, another building called Central House was added. It was used for church activities and also rented out.
Important People at the Church
Many different ministers have led the Collins Street Baptist Church. The first minister was Rev. John Ham. He preached in Melbourne from 1842 to 1847. After him, Rev. James Taylor led the church for ten years.
Other ministers included Rev. James Martin, Samuel Chapman, S. Pearce Carey, and F. C. Spurr. T. E. Ruth was the minister from 1914 to 1923.
Notable Ministers
Thomas Elias Ruth (1875–1956) was born in England. He first studied to be a Church of England minister. But he later became a strong Baptist. He started at Collins Street in March 1914. He was known for being open-minded. In 1923, he moved to a different church in Sydney. He retired in South Australia in 1938.
William Dodds Jackson (1893–1980) was also from England. He studied at Bristol Baptist College. He fought bravely in World War I. He came to Australia and began preaching at Collins Street in September 1924. He continued to preach sometimes even in the 1960s. He passed away in England.
Ronald Ham (1929–2015) became minister in 1981. He was the first minister born in Australia. In 2000, Rowena Curtis became the first woman minister. Tim Costello joined the team in 2005. He helped lead the church's Urban Mission Unit, which is now called Urban Seed.
Since 2010, Simon Carey Holt has been the pastor. He used to teach at Whitley College. This is a Baptist college in Melbourne. He teaches about spirituality and ethics. He has also written several books. These include God Next Door (2007) and Heaven All Around Us (2018).
Famous Members
Many well-known people have been members of this church throughout its history. In the early 1900s, several women who worked for women's rights in Victoria were members. These included Cecilia Downing, Margaret McLean, and Bessie Rees.
Some politicians were also members. These include Denis Lovegrove and Robert Reid. The Syme family, who owned The Age newspaper, were also members. This included the famous David Syme.
