Pilgrim Uniting Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pilgrim Uniting Church
34°55′37″S 138°36′03″E / 34.926891°S 138.600926°E / -34.926891; 138.600926
Location	Flinders Street, Adelaide, South Australia
Country	Australia
Denomination	Uniting (since 1977)
Previous denomination	Congregational (1865 – 1977)
History
Former name(s)	Stow Memorial Church Union Church in the City
Status	Church
Founded	7 February 1865 (1865-02-07)
Dedication	Rev. Thomas Quinton Stow
Dedicated	12 April 1867
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Robert George Thomas
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Specifications
Capacity	1,500
Materials	Glen Osmond stone
Administration
Synod	South Australia

Pilgrim Uniting Church is a special church building in Adelaide, South Australia. It is located on Flinders Street. This church is part of the Uniting Church.

The church believes in helping people and making things fair for everyone. This idea is called social justice. It is a big part of what the Uniting Church does. Pilgrim Church also has cool music programs for everyone to enjoy. It even has the biggest organ in all of Adelaide!

A Look at the Church's History

Early Days at Pirie Street

The church community first met at the Gawler Place Wesleyan Chapel. The first minister at the Pirie Street location was Daniel Draper. Their first service there was held on October 19, 1852.

A talented musician named William Bowen Chinner was the organist and choirmaster at Pirie Street for many years. His nephew, Norman Chinner, later took on the same roles starting in 1939.

Stow Memorial Church: A New Beginning

The first Congregational church in South Australia was a simple tent. Later, a building was made in Freeman Street. The church community then moved to the Flinders Street site.

The Stow Memorial Church was built at 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide. It was named after Reverend Thomas Quinton Stow. He led the very first church service in a tent back in October 1837. The first stone for the new church was placed on February 7, 1865. The first worship service in the new building was on April 12, 1867. The first minister was Cadwallader William Evan. James Shakespeare was the organist for a very long time, serving for 45 years!

Becoming Pilgrim Uniting Church

On June 1, 1969, the Pirie Street Methodist and Stow Memorial churches joined together. They formed a new church called the Union Church in the City. In November 1975, the church changed its name again to Pilgrim Church. Finally, in 1977, the church officially became part of the Uniting Church when it was first created.

The Church Buildings

Pirie Street Chapel

The first stone for the Pirie Street Wesleyan Chapel was laid on July 15, 1850. Henry Stuckey designed the church. After he passed away in 1851, Edmund Wright finished the building.

After the two churches merged, the Pirie Street building was bought by the Adelaide City Council. It was taken down in 1976. Edmund Wright also designed the Methodist Meeting Hall. This hall was built in 1862. It is the only part left of the old Pirie Street property. It is now part of the Adelaide Town Hall complex.

Flinders Street Church

The first stone for the Stow Memorial Church on Flinders Street was laid on February 7, 1865. The church was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches. The architect was Robert George Thomas. He was one of the first people to arrive in South Australia in 1836.

Stow Hall was built next to the church in 1872. It is at 16 Flinders Street. This hall has been a popular place for amateur theatre groups to perform their plays.

Amazing Organs

The large organ in the Flinders Street church was first put into the Pirie Street building in 1855. The organ from Flinders Street was sold to another church. Over the years, the Flinders Street organ has been improved many times. It is now the largest organ in all of South Australia!

People Connected to the Church

Many interesting people have been part of these churches over the years.

Pirie Street Methodist Church Members

• Henry Adams
• John and Mary Colton
• John Langdon Bonython
• Daniel Draper
• Benjamin Gould
• Frank Hambly
• John Hill
• Henry Howard (a minister from 1902 to 1921)
• James Wedlock

Stow Memorial Church Members

• Mostyn Evan
• William Roby Fletcher, a minister who started in 1876
• Matthew Goode
• William Muirden
• William Parkin
• Arthur William Piper
• James Zimri Sellar
• Thomas Hyland Smeaton
• Alfred Depledge Sykes, a minister from 1904 to 1906 and again from 1907 to 1913
• Charles Todd
• George Wright (1917–1975), who became a judge. He was the son of Reverend George H. Wright, a minister at Stow Memorial Church.

Pilgrim Uniting Church Members

• Judith Blake
• Thea Gaia
• Basil Hetzel
• Penny Wong

Laneway Renaming

In August 2022, the City of Adelaide changed the name of the small street next to the church. It used to be called Pilgrim Lane. Now it is called Paul Kelly Lane. This was done to honor Paul Kelly, a famous musician who grew up nearby. This was the fourth time the council renamed a laneway to celebrate musicians from the city.

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