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CHURCHES AND CHURCH AFFAIRS—
UNLEY METHODIST CHURCH.
BEARING WITNESS FOR 72 YEARS.
The steady growth of the denomination
in the principal southern suburb from
the year 1831, when a modest little chapel
in Arthur street served the needs of
Methodist worshippers, until the present
time when, the cause is represented
by, anong other fine edifices, a
magnificent and commodious stone struc
ture, standing out boldly; on King William
road, Unley, is shown by the historical
records of the church. These records
have an appositeness when studied in con
junction with those relating to the deve
lopment of Unley, from a village of green
fields and a few houses to a thickly popu
lated and dignified city.
In his book, 'Reminiscences of a City
Suburb and an Old Saint,' the Rev. John
Blacket, who spent many years' residence
in Unley, and was identified with the
none Help
REV. ENOCH GRATTON,
First superintendent cf Unley circuit after
Methodist Union, and Minister of the Church
from 1900-1903.
REV. ENOCH GRATTON,
First superintendent cf Unley circuit after
Methodist Union, and Minister of the Church
from 1900-1903.
church, devotes an informative chapter to
the growth of Methodism in that suburb.
The Methodist Trust was formed in the
village of Unley in 1851, and the Free
masons now own the old church and
schoolroom. The gist of the chapel deed
is as follows:— Allotment 68, conveyance
dated May 30, 1850, from Elisha Thomas,
of the village of Unley, in consideration
of the sum of £10, to Elisha Thomas,
Unley; Daniel Sargeant, Unley, gentle
man; Anthoney Smith, miller, of the
Black Forest; William Martin, stone
mason, Adelaide; Edward Johns, farmer,
Adelaide; Thomas Maslin, storekeeper,
Adelaide; Robert Hawkes, draper, Ade
laide; Andrew Johnston, accountant, Ade
laide: John Colton, saddler, Adelaide; and
the Rev. Daniel James Draper, Adelaide,
superintendent of the circuit. The fore
going gentlemen may be regarded as the
founders of Methodism in Unley. Mr.
(afterwards. Sir) John Colton not only
exerted a powerful influence for good in
the church, but throughout the State.
Mr. Johnston was a local preacher, and
lived only four days after the foundation
stone of Pirie Street Church was laid.
He was thrown from his horse and killed
while riding to Norwood on personal busi
ness, in company with Mr. Draper. Tra
dition affirms of Mr. Sargeant that during
the gold rush to Victoria in 1832 he was
one of two male adults left in the village,
and was made the custodian of the wives
and families. The Unley Chapel was built
on a part of Mr. Thomas's garden. He
was the first class leader after the trust
was formed, and the first Sunday school
superintendent. He was a Cornish miner,
and lived in a little whitewashed cottage.
Original Chapel Opened.
It is believed that the foundation stone
of the old chapel was laid by Mr. Draper.
It was opened on December 7 1851. A
handbill, preserved by Mr. Edward Peters
for nearly half a century, announced the
preachers as follows: — Mr. R. Hunting
ton in the morning, Mr. Draper in the
afternoon, and Mr. Boundy in the evening.
Soon after the chapel was built a Sunday
school was formed. Mr. Peters left for
the diggings in 1852, and returned to the
colony in 1853. He used to walk from
Adelaide to Unley every Sunday, when
acting as superintendent of the Sunday
school. He left for the gqldiields again,
and finally settled in Victoria; where he
rendered useful service to the cause. The
schoolroom that adjoined the old chapel
was erected about 1853, and for many
years was used solely for educational pur
poses. It was built by Mr. Richard
Hounslow. In some way the Rev. Wil
liam Butters became associated with Mr.
Hounslow in the ownership of the pro
perty, and it was conveyed by these two
gentlemen to 12 trustees. It was only five
years since the chapel trust had been
formed, but Methodism in the village had
grown meanwhile. Only two of the trus
tees on the chapel deed were local resi
dents, but on the schoolroom deed, five
years later, no less than seven of the trus
tees were village residents. Of the trus
tees Henry Codd, a builder, was thought
to be the first local preacher in the vil
lage, and often occupied the pulpit. He
died on April 4, 1880. Daniel Thomas
was a man of warm temperament, and
served the denomination in the
Sunday school. Very little infor
mation is available concerning the
other trustees. The Rev. John Watsford.
none Help
REV. CHARLES MARTIN,
Minister from 1911-1316.
REV. CHARLES MARTIN,
Minister from 1911-1316.
who had the pastoral care of the village
when the schoolroom deed was effected,
was known and loved throughout Austra
lian Methodism. Among the earliest
sisterhood connected with the old chapel
were Mesdames Truscott, Jope, Greer,
Codd, Opey, Turner, Morgan, and Sar
geant. Some of the brightest stars in
the Methodist firmament shone in the old
village pulpit in those days, including the
Revs. William Butters, D. J. Draper.
Joseph Dare, Thomas Williams, Spencer
Williams, William Ingram, Alfred Rice,
W. L. Binks. James Bickford, and W.
P. Wells. Among the local preachers
were Messrs. James Scott, John Maddern
and J.D. Bone. Inside the door of the
old chapel there was a cedar screen, and
as a convenient method, of ascertaining
who the preacher was one of the village
youths bored a hole through the centre of
the screen, just opposite the pulpit. The
youths were accustomed to halt before
this hole and eye the preacher. Again
and again the hole was filled up only
to be picked out again by the penknives of
the lads. One Sunday morning, the peep
hole was found to be covered with the
iron heelplate of a boot. The old chapel
keeper ('Father' Truscott had evi
dently nailed it on. This was regarded
by the lads as a far greater sacrilege, than
the small, nicely drilled hole— it was
hideous as well as a disadvantage. Having
put his 'iron, heel' on a practice which
troubled his soul, the old keeper thought
he had achieved his purpose, but the heel
tip disappeared, and there was nothing
for the old man to do but to accept the
inevitable.
An Evangelistic Mission.
With the exception of a material en
largement in 1858 (a transept), nothing
of special note occurred if the history of
the old chapel until 1867. when there was
a great spiritual awakening. The leading
spirit was John F. Orr, who was one of
a band of men who had recently come
from the old country. Special services
were held at Unley, and a number of
persons were converted. The effects of
the mission spread to Edwardstown,
Plympton, Fulham and Thebarton. Mr.
Orr subsequently entered the ministry in
the colony, and later, on went to New
South Wales. No account of Methodism
none Help
REV. WILLIAM SHAW,
Minister from 1916-1921.
REV. WILLIAM SHAW,
Minister from 1916-1921.
in Unley would be complete without a
reference to 'Father' Truscott, whose
humble life and daily acts of kindness
won the esteem of all who knew him.
He was one of the first villagers. For
10 years or more he went in and out
among the people as a Christian worker
and to many souls his home was a Bethel,
as it had been richly consecrated by
prayer and praise. He was the leader of
a large class of adult church workers
until he was more than 90 years of age.
A very old institution was the Sunday
morning 7 o'clock prayer meeting, of
which he was also the leader. Perhaps
it was as a visitor to the sick that he
accomplished the greatest, measure of good.
No time was too inconvenient or distance
too great for 'Father' Truscott if his
services were needed, even, though it was
at the close of the Sabbath, after long
and strenuous day's labour. He died
on December 30. 1901 at the age of 94
years. Mr. J. H. R. Harris was also a
devoted worker for .many years, and was
particularly successful as a class leader
Another contemporary worker, Mr.James
Prisk. who is now 83 years of age. still
holds office as church steward. There
was no musical instrument in the church
in the early days, the hymns usually being
started by a strong-lunged precentor.
The Present Church Built
Between the years 1870 and 1880 the
southern suburbs began to grow rapidly.
There was a cry that the Wesleyan Metho
dist Church was allowing these suburbs to
pass out of its hands. A piece of land
was secured in King William road, and
arrangements made for building a large
church more in keeping with the growth
of the neighbourhood and the spirit of
the time. The foundation stone was laid
on May 24, 1880, by the Hon. (afterwards
Sir) John Colton. Mr. R. G. Wilkinson
presided at 'the public meeting in the old
chapel. The building, which was com
pleted and dedicated by the Rev. H. T.
Burgess on January 14, 1881, is constructed
of stone, and is of neat design, embracing
Gothic features chiefly, and has a seating
capacity of about 450. It is 60 ft. long
by 40 ft. wide, and 20 ft. high, and the
estimated, cost was £2,000. Mr .John
Turner gave £100 towards the new church.
The Rev. John Watts was appointed to
Unley in 1878. and was followed by the
Rev. S. S. Moncrieff. who subsequently
joined the Church of England. The Rev.
W. Dawson followed in 1880, but died be
fore his year was completed. The Rev.
Robert Kelly was minister from 1881 to
1884. The church was part, of Pirie
street circuit, when Mr. Kelly went there,
but Unley was afterwards made the head
of a circuit, Mr. Kelly being made the
first superintendent.
Lecture Hall Built
The foundation stone, of the lecture hall
was laid by Mrs. John Colton, on July 9,
1883, and the opening services held on
December 16. The hall is at the rear of
the church, and faces the south. It is a
solid stone structure, measuring 66 ft. by
40 ft., and 20 ft. high, and is well equipped
with classrooms on either side and at the
northern end. The cost was from £1,800
to £2,000. The parsonage was built about
1882, and subsequently enlarged. The
house originally cost £750. The Rev.
(afterwards Dr.) H. T. Burgess was in
charge of the church from 1884 to 1837, and
was succeeded by the Rev. James Haslam,
who remained for two vears. The Rev.
D. S. Wyllie followed in 18S9, and held
none Help
REV. S. CARROLL MYERS,
The present Minister (since 1922).
REV. S. CARROLL MYERS,
The present Minister (since 1922).
office for three years. The combined debt
in 1889 was £4,100, but by a generous gift
from Mr. R. G. Wilkinson of. £250, and
£1 for every £1 raised above that amount,
the debt was reduced to £3,100, and the
interest-bearing debt still further lowered
by a loan from the Methodist Loan Fund,
and a gift from the Jubilee Fund, a few
years later. Mr. Kelly fulfilled a second
term in the pastorate, from 1892 to 1895.
His successor was the Rev. H. H. Teague,
who remained until 1898. Next in the
ministerial office was the Rev. W. A.
Langsford. The close of his ministry in
1900 saw the consummation of Methodist
union. The first minister under union
was the Rev. Enoch Gratton, who stayed
for three years. Mr. Gratton last week
celebrated his 86th birthday. He is the
second oldest Methodist minister in the
State, and is able to conduct services
nearly every Sunday. He is much be
loved throughout the denomination. The
Rev. Charles Martin, who came into the
Methodist union from the Bible Chris-
tian body, assumed the pastorate in 1903,
and laboured until 1907. The scheme for
the reduction of the debt on the church
was largely the outcome, of his recommen-
dations. From 1907 to 1911 the Rev. T.
G. White, ministered to the congregation.
During his term the organ loft was built,
and the pipe organ, a secondhand instru
ment, purchased in 1908 at a cost of about
£130, was enlarged and improved. The
church was also renovated. For five
years the Rev. W. G. Clarke discharged
the obligations of the pastoral office. The
kindergarten room, a convenient iron
structure, 20 feet by 20 feet, with two
lobbies, was built in 1912. The architect
was the Rev. T. G. White, and the
opening 'ceremony ' was performed by
Miss M. E. Patchell, B.A., . B.Sc.
In 1916 the Rev. William Shaw succeeded
to the oversight of the church, and con
tinued his ministry until 1921. The seat-
ing of the church was rearranged and
the accommodation increased during his
term. The vestry, costing £150, was also
added to the church building. From
£600 to £700 was expended on these
additions. During 1920 a further effort
was made to reduce the debt so far as
the church building and the lecture hall
were concerned, and Mr. Simon Harvey
made a generous gift of £300. The
present debt is £1,250. and it is hoped
that within a few weeks the church and
the hall will be entirely free of debt.
About £400 was spent on altera-
tions to the parsonage. The value
of the church property is esti
mated to be from £12,000 to £13,000. The
Rev. F. Lade, M.A., was minister for
one year, after which he was appointed
principal of the Brighton Training College.
Each of the ministers at Unley since 1881
filled the presidential chair of Conference,
prior or subsequent to Methodist union.
The Church To-day.
The present minister, Rev. S. Carroll
Myers, who came out from England a few
years ago with a fine record of service,
was minister at Kent Town prior to un
dertaking the secretarial duties of the Me
morial Hospital in 1921. He came to
Unley Church in 1922, and has established
himself in the affection and esteem of the
congregation. In his preaching he always
strikes a practical and optimistic note,
and he is unremitting in his pastoral
duties, while his previous experience
qualifies him as a leader among the young
people. The present church membership
is 290. The prayer meeting at 7.30 a.m.
on Sundays is a special feature. The Sun
day school is graded on modern lines. The
scholars number 408, and the teachers and
officers 57. The children are interested in
foreign mission work, and have been sup
porting a native teacher in New Guinea
for a number of years. Christian En
deavour societies also cater for the spiritual
needs of the young people. The senior
and junior- clubs for the boys, which have
been for some time under the leadership
of Messrs. H.W. LeCornu; E. Terrell,
and C. Grant respectively, and correspond
ing clubs, for the girls under the guidance
of Mesdames- H. L. Morris, Willoughby,
and Miss Lomman respectively, provide
full scope for social and physical welfare.
The women's foreign mission, auxiliary,
and the home mission organization per
form valuable work. The women's weekly
Bible class is well attended. Memorial
windows have been placed in the church
in honour of 'Father' Truscott, Henry
Bishop, a local preacher and superintend
ent of the Sunday school, James and Ann
M. Broad, Ann Jarvis, Mr. J. K. Sander
son, Joseph. Smith, of Edwardstown, who
left £100 to the church, and Cpl. A. B.
Dickenson, secretary of the Sunday school,
who was killed at Gallipoli. There is
also a stained window, a gift from the
Sunday school. The roll of honour con
tains the names of 57 men who enlisted
in the Great War; 12 of the names are in
scribed on the roll of sacrifice.
Members of Long Standing.
A fine feature of the church is the large
number of members and workers whose
association goes back many years. Messrs.
Simon Harvey (a very liberal financial sup
porter) and Henry Brandwood, trustees,
Mrs. S. E. Dobbie, and Miss S. Sims, who
were teachers in the Sunday school for
many years, are present members who
were identified with the original church.
Other prominent members for many years
who are still in membership, include
Messrs. E. Broad, who was honorary or
ganist for 25 years, Stephen Parsons, and
J. W. Rogers, Sunday school superinten
dents, and local preachers, and J. E.
Virgo, church treasurer. The member
ship roll recalls many other names of past
and present church workers, among whom
may be mentioned Mr. and Mrs. F. W.
Thrum, Mr. and Mrs. George Rogers, Mrs.
Bunyard, Messrs. W. H. Sanderson, W.
Miller,. H. Tonkin, W. Shierlaw,. Edwin
Davey, Theodore Hack, . R. T. Burhard,
W. L. Neale, G. Hassall, R.G. Wilkin
son, Robert and Henry Newberrv, John
Broad; Mr. and Mrs. Rowley, and Mr. and
Mrs. Chris. Lewis.
The Life of Faith.
There was a good congregation at the
morning service on February 10, when the
pastor officiated. The choir rendered the
anthem 'Incline thine ear' the soloist
being Miss G. Woolley. Basing his address
on the text 'Now faith is the assurance
of things hoped for, the proving of things
not seen' (Hebrews xi. 1). Mr. Myers
said that nowhere did 'the writer of the
epistle rise higher than in the statement
concerning faith, and in the illustrations
which followed he summoned them to its
banner and to the same ideal and con
quest. The heroes in the chapter all lived
by promises, and they endured as seeing
the Invisible, never content with the pre
sent, but looking for the city without
foundation, whose builder was God. The
essential quality of faith, added 'the
preacher, was the same to them as to
Abraham, and to them came new hopes
that called for the same endurance of
faith. There were other horizons beyond
those which they now saw. The ideal
receded as they advanced, for as it was
being realized it grew greater and grander,
for the Kingdom of God had no limit.
In the New Testament the word 'faith'
was one of the commonest, but that chap
ter was the only one that attempted to
give a definition of it. Hopes were castles
built in space; faith gave them bricks and
mortar. It was faith that conferred upon
hope the right to live in the beautiful
palaces which she built. In the literature
of ancient Egypt the word' 'faith' was
translated 'assurance' or 'substance.'
The thought perhaps found its worthiest
expression in the words of St. Paul, 'I
know whom I have believed.' Was there
never a thought at the back of their: mind
that, if Christ were taken away from
them, all the light of their life would be
gone? Could they so commit their way
unto Him that they knew He was work
ing out for them a great salvation. Faith
in Christ should venture everything upon
Him in everything that He had declared,
in the confidence that He could not fail.
Christ's words were not vague. There
need not be a shadow of doubt concern
ing the life that was eternal and all its
blessedness. For every man who had seen
Jerusalem there were thousands who had
seen the New Jerusalem. Christ's love
was ruling at the centre and fount of all
things, and it was always ruling for their
good. Blessed were those who had not
seen and yet had believed. Let them
live day by day in that faith, strengthened
by its promises of full and perfect victory.
The forty-fourth article of the weekly
series will deal with St Peter's Church,
Glenelg.
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