Semaphore Uniting Church (formerly Wesleyan) World War Two Roll of Honour. South Australia
Semaphore Wesleyan Church 1867 now the Semaphore Uniting Church
Methodism in the Semaphore dates from about 1865, when preaching services and a Sunday school were held in a small building situated near where Hall Street and Woolnough Road now intersect. The little building was also used as a schoolroom, and was attached to the North Adelaide circuit.
The father of the present church, erected in 1867, was the late Rev C T Newman who was indefatigable in his work and visitation among the scattered population on the Peninsula side of the water.
Mr W Deverall was the honorary architect of the church, which cost approximately £650.
In 1877 increased accommodation had to be provided and the transepts to the church were built, and also a commodious stone schoolroom running east and west at the back of the church, the total cost being £1,500. [Unfortunately a sad mistake was made in continuing the low plastered ceiling in the old church over the new transept and schoolroom, instead of leaving a roof lined with pine. This had to be paid for in later years when the organ was installed.]
In 1884 the interior of the church was reconstructed. £450 was spent in buying new land and a cottage, and the handsome pedal organ and engine were erected at a cost of £650. Later the shop on the corner was bought for £600.
During Mr W L Rofe’s tenure of office as Sunday School Superintendent six new classrooms and offices were erected, at a cost of £900. Towards which the Sunday School raised £600.
The parsonage for many years was in Semaphore Road, but two years ago another property was secured in Woolnough Road. Last year an electric blower for the organ was installed, and a fine up-to-date gymnasium hall was erected and equipped.
The total cost of the valuable pile of buildings and land (including parsonage) is approximately £8,000.
In the church is a fine Roll of Honour, containing the names of over 100 who enlisted during the Great War, nineteen of whom made the supreme sacrifice. [Ref: Pictorial Historical Souvenir Back to Semaphore January 1930 by Captain R W Osborne]
The owner of the original building (about 20 x 14) used by the church was Mrs Harvey. At this time LeFevre Peninsula was a dreary waste of spinifex, reeds, and drifting sand.
From March till July 1867, trustee meetings were held in the old Port Adelaide Methodist schoolroom, and attendees included the Rev C T Newman, and W Deverall. At these meetings the purchase of land and the erection of a building were decided upon, the honorary architect being Mr Deverall, and £100 cash being in hand. Unfortunately there is a gap in the minute book between 1867 and 1873, memoranda having been mutilated and lost without entry.
An old resident records as follows: The "revival" under the ministry of the Rev Jas Reid is brought vividly to mind. The district was wild with excitement. Such scenes took place as would hardly be credited were they here described. The little church was open every night, sometimes till midnight, as the people would not leave. The feeling ran so high that the building was commonly known as "The Little Glory”. [Ref: Australian Christian Commonwealth (SA) Semaphore Methodist Church Jubilee 1867–17 by EGS. 14-9-1917]
Built in 1867 of Melbourne bluestone sent as ballast in the wheat ships, it was first church on LeFevre Peninsula. Repeated extensions have produced a massive complex.
In 1903 a handsome organ was installed necessitating the raising of the transept ceiling. The organ was previously in ‘Rippon Lea’, a Melbourne mansion. Sensitive extensions contribute to the architecture of the original building.
*Semaphore Uniting Church was built in 1867 as a Methodist Church. The beautiful bluestone came from the ballast that came from wheat ships during the 1800s.
Our pipe organ, built in 1870 in England, fell into disrepair for many years, but a generous donation allowed it to be restored to its former glory. The organ is now regularly used in our Sunday worship services.
Semaphore Methodist Church purchased the organ for 275 pounds, and an additional 254 pounds was charged for cartage and installation. It was unveiled on September 15, 1903.
The organ was built by P C Conacher and Co, Huddersfield, England. It has three keyboards, each with 56 notes, and the pedal board contains 30 notes. There are 17 speaking stops, five couplers and a total of 986 pipes. The largest pipes are approximately 8 feet long and the smallest pipes are half an inch. An electric blower was installed in 1929.
During the power restricts of the war years, the young men of the church were called upon to power the organ, but they were unable to sustain sufficient power to allow the pedal organ to be used. Ref: The Uniting Church in Australia, Semaphore. [Ref: Church website]
On Tuesday evening the unveiling of the new organ in the Methodist Church, Semaphore, was performed in the church by Mrs John Dunn, of Mount Barker.
The desire to sustain the psalmody of the church, combined with a decision to perpetuate the memory of two of the honoured church officers, Messrs. George Shorney and John Burton, resulted in the erection of a beautiful three manual memorial organ. The compass of the organ is well suited to the church, whilst, its tonal facilities are good, some of the stops being exceptionally fine for an instrument of the size. The case, which is of solid English walnut, is probably one of the most chaste and beautiful in the State. Mr T H Jones, Mus. Bac. expressed himself as highly pleased with the action of the instrument, and was loud in his praise of the manner in which Mr Dodd (the builder) carried out the work of erecting it. He then gave an organ recital in his usual finished style, and he succeeded in showing to the greatest advantage the possibilities of the instrument. [Ref: Express and Telegraph (Adelaide)Wednesday 16-9-1903]
The thirty-seventh anniversary services were conducted on Sunday by Rp Sir Frederick Holder and the Rev E T Cox. On Monday evening a pleasant social gathering was held in the lecture hall. The pastor’s report showed that spiritual progress had been marked. The treasurer reported an income of £132, added to £25 brought forward. They now had £4 11, in hand after providing for an expenditure of £153, including £20 off the trust debt. During the past two years £450 had been raised for a pipe organ fund, so that the financial position was extremely satisfactory. [Ref: Register (Adelaide) Tuesday 27-9-1904]
The trustees of the Semaphore Methodist church have decided to proceed with the renovation of the inside and outside of the edifice. A new face will be put upon the old structure. [Ref: Port Adelaide News (SA) 29-8-1913]
The Semaphore Methodist Church Diamond Anniversary celebrations concluded this week. Special services were held on Sunday, September 25, and last Sunday, a concert in the Semaphore Town Hall on Monday evening, and the final gathering of former and present members and adherents was held at the church on Wednesday evening.
This meeting took the form of a reunion tea at 6 pm, an organ recital and community singing at 7 pm, and the public meeting at 7.45 pm over which the Mayor of Port Adelaide (Mr A O R Tapp) presided, the Rev J G Jenkin being the principal speaker.
Wednesday's meetings were fitly described as a "Great Back to Semaphore Gathering." There was a record attendance of members from the district, and of former residents. Many apologies for non attendance were received from people in far-away parts, even including Western Australia. Five members were present who attended the opening ceremony sixty years ago.
The Rev T E Geddes White (pastor) introduced the Mayor.
The Mayor said he was delighted to know that the Semaphore Methodist Church had made such undoubted advancement. They had profound respect for the worthy pioneers of that church, and the pioneers of Methodism.
The report of the treasurer (Mr R A Cotton) was highly satisfactory in regard to the response to the appeal for the cost of renovations, now completed. It showed that members and adherents from near and far had forwarded no less than £332, which was cause for extreme gratitude. [Ref: Port Adelaide News (SA) 7-10-1927]
Semaphore Uniting Church (formerly Wesleyan) World War Two Roll of Honour. South Australia
Semaphore Wesleyan Church 1867 now the Semaphore Uniting Church
Methodism in the Semaphore dates from about 1865, when preaching services and a Sunday school were held in a small building situated near where Hall Street and Woolnough Road now intersect. The little building was also used as a schoolroom, and was attached to the North Adelaide circuit.
The father of the present church, erected in 1867, was the late Rev C T Newman who was indefatigable in his work and visitation among the scattered population on the Peninsula side of the water.
Mr W Deverall was the honorary architect of the church, which cost approximately £650.
In 1877 increased accommodation had to be provided and the transepts to the church were built, and also a commodious stone schoolroom running east and west at the back of the church, the total cost being £1,500. [Unfortunately a sad mistake was made in continuing the low plastered ceiling in the old church over the new transept and schoolroom, instead of leaving a roof lined with pine. This had to be paid for in later years when the organ was installed.]
In 1884 the interior of the church was reconstructed. £450 was spent in buying new land and a cottage, and the handsome pedal organ and engine were erected at a cost of £650. Later the shop on the corner was bought for £600.
During Mr W L Rofe’s tenure of office as Sunday School Superintendent six new classrooms and offices were erected, at a cost of £900. Towards which the Sunday School raised £600.
The parsonage for many years was in Semaphore Road, but two years ago another property was secured in Woolnough Road. Last year an electric blower for the organ was installed, and a fine up-to-date gymnasium hall was erected and equipped.
The total cost of the valuable pile of buildings and land (including parsonage) is approximately £8,000.
In the church is a fine Roll of Honour, containing the names of over 100 who enlisted during the Great War, nineteen of whom made the supreme sacrifice. [Ref: Pictorial Historical Souvenir Back to Semaphore January 1930 by Captain R W Osborne]
The owner of the original building (about 20 x 14) used by the church was Mrs Harvey. At this time LeFevre Peninsula was a dreary waste of spinifex, reeds, and drifting sand.
From March till July 1867, trustee meetings were held in the old Port Adelaide Methodist schoolroom, and attendees included the Rev C T Newman, and W Deverall. At these meetings the purchase of land and the erection of a building were decided upon, the honorary architect being Mr Deverall, and £100 cash being in hand. Unfortunately there is a gap in the minute book between 1867 and 1873, memoranda having been mutilated and lost without entry.
An old resident records as follows: The "revival" under the ministry of the Rev Jas Reid is brought vividly to mind. The district was wild with excitement. Such scenes took place as would hardly be credited were they here described. The little church was open every night, sometimes till midnight, as the people would not leave. The feeling ran so high that the building was commonly known as "The Little Glory”. [Ref: Australian Christian Commonwealth (SA) Semaphore Methodist Church Jubilee 1867–17 by EGS. 14-9-1917]
Built in 1867 of Melbourne bluestone sent as ballast in the wheat ships, it was first church on LeFevre Peninsula. Repeated extensions have produced a massive complex.
In 1903 a handsome organ was installed necessitating the raising of the transept ceiling. The organ was previously in ‘Rippon Lea’, a Melbourne mansion. Sensitive extensions contribute to the architecture of the original building.
*Semaphore Uniting Church was built in 1867 as a Methodist Church. The beautiful bluestone came from the ballast that came from wheat ships during the 1800s.
Our pipe organ, built in 1870 in England, fell into disrepair for many years, but a generous donation allowed it to be restored to its former glory. The organ is now regularly used in our Sunday worship services.
Semaphore Methodist Church purchased the organ for 275 pounds, and an additional 254 pounds was charged for cartage and installation. It was unveiled on September 15, 1903.
The organ was built by P C Conacher and Co, Huddersfield, England. It has three keyboards, each with 56 notes, and the pedal board contains 30 notes. There are 17 speaking stops, five couplers and a total of 986 pipes. The largest pipes are approximately 8 feet long and the smallest pipes are half an inch. An electric blower was installed in 1929.
During the power restricts of the war years, the young men of the church were called upon to power the organ, but they were unable to sustain sufficient power to allow the pedal organ to be used. Ref: The Uniting Church in Australia, Semaphore. [Ref: Church website]
On Tuesday evening the unveiling of the new organ in the Methodist Church, Semaphore, was performed in the church by Mrs John Dunn, of Mount Barker.
The desire to sustain the psalmody of the church, combined with a decision to perpetuate the memory of two of the honoured church officers, Messrs. George Shorney and John Burton, resulted in the erection of a beautiful three manual memorial organ. The compass of the organ is well suited to the church, whilst, its tonal facilities are good, some of the stops being exceptionally fine for an instrument of the size. The case, which is of solid English walnut, is probably one of the most chaste and beautiful in the State. Mr T H Jones, Mus. Bac. expressed himself as highly pleased with the action of the instrument, and was loud in his praise of the manner in which Mr Dodd (the builder) carried out the work of erecting it. He then gave an organ recital in his usual finished style, and he succeeded in showing to the greatest advantage the possibilities of the instrument. [Ref: Express and Telegraph (Adelaide)Wednesday 16-9-1903]
The thirty-seventh anniversary services were conducted on Sunday by Rp Sir Frederick Holder and the Rev E T Cox. On Monday evening a pleasant social gathering was held in the lecture hall. The pastor’s report showed that spiritual progress had been marked. The treasurer reported an income of £132, added to £25 brought forward. They now had £4 11, in hand after providing for an expenditure of £153, including £20 off the trust debt. During the past two years £450 had been raised for a pipe organ fund, so that the financial position was extremely satisfactory. [Ref: Register (Adelaide) Tuesday 27-9-1904]
The trustees of the Semaphore Methodist church have decided to proceed with the renovation of the inside and outside of the edifice. A new face will be put upon the old structure. [Ref: Port Adelaide News (SA) 29-8-1913]
The Semaphore Methodist Church Diamond Anniversary celebrations concluded this week. Special services were held on Sunday, September 25, and last Sunday, a concert in the Semaphore Town Hall on Monday evening, and the final gathering of former and present members and adherents was held at the church on Wednesday evening.
This meeting took the form of a reunion tea at 6 pm, an organ recital and community singing at 7 pm, and the public meeting at 7.45 pm over which the Mayor of Port Adelaide (Mr A O R Tapp) presided, the Rev J G Jenkin being the principal speaker.
Wednesday's meetings were fitly described as a "Great Back to Semaphore Gathering." There was a record attendance of members from the district, and of former residents. Many apologies for non attendance were received from people in far-away parts, even including Western Australia. Five members were present who attended the opening ceremony sixty years ago.
The Rev T E Geddes White (pastor) introduced the Mayor.
The Mayor said he was delighted to know that the Semaphore Methodist Church had made such undoubted advancement. They had profound respect for the worthy pioneers of that church, and the pioneers of Methodism.
The report of the treasurer (Mr R A Cotton) was highly satisfactory in regard to the response to the appeal for the cost of renovations, now completed. It showed that members and adherents from near and far had forwarded no less than £332, which was cause for extreme gratitude. [Ref: Port Adelaide News (SA) 7-10-1927]