Coromandel Valley Congregational church
Site of demolished chapel built on land donated 1850 by Thomas Matthews, used by Congregationals and Wesleyans until Wesleyans built own chapel. First chapel-school opened 1851 as Union Chapel. Thomas Matthews died 1867; his memorial is centre background.
“Congregational. . . In August, 1848, the church undertook to supply ministerial services to a congregation assembling at Coromandel Valley, Upper Sturt, on Tuesday evenings; and that stated service continuing to be held at the house of — Matthews, Esq., a chapel, to be used also as a day-school, has been erected and is about to be opened.” [SA Gazette & Mining Journal 13 Mar 1851]
"In 1850 Mr. T. Matthews gave the land now used as a cemetery, and money was raised by subscription for a schoolhouse, the building to be used on Sundays for divine worship by any Protestant denomination. Mr. Watt, a school teacher, who had been a Congregational minister, used to hold one service in the school each Sunday, and the Wesleyans another, but for some reason the Wesleyans again took to holding their services m private buildings.” [Chronicle 21 Aug 1909]
“Union Chapel, Coromandel Valley. Upper Sturt.— A social meeting of a very animating description was held here in the afternoon and evening of Good Friday, to celebrate the opening of the Chapel on the same day in 1851. The neat Chapel, which would have proved too small to accommodate many visitors in addition to its ordinary congregation, had its accommodations enlarged by a tent erected at the vestry end. . . the meeting broke up soon after 8 o'clock. Many friends from Adelaide were hospitably entertained at the house of T. Matthews, Esq., to whose exertions the erection of the Union Chapel is greatly due. Before the midnight hour Mr. Matthews ended his zealous attentions to the guests by accompanying many of them in the brilliant moonlight of this delightful evening through the wild and romantic road which, winding over the hilly range of the Brownhill Creek, alongside several deep ravines, terminates in the plains of Adelaide.” [Register 4 Apr 1853]
“MATTHEWS. —At Geelong, Victoria, on the 2nd September, Thomas Matthews, Esq., late of Coromandel Valley, aged 56 years.” [Advertiser 4 Sep 1867]
Coromandel Valley Congregational church
Site of demolished chapel built on land donated 1850 by Thomas Matthews, used by Congregationals and Wesleyans until Wesleyans built own chapel. First chapel-school opened 1851 as Union Chapel. Thomas Matthews died 1867; his memorial is centre background.
“Congregational. . . In August, 1848, the church undertook to supply ministerial services to a congregation assembling at Coromandel Valley, Upper Sturt, on Tuesday evenings; and that stated service continuing to be held at the house of — Matthews, Esq., a chapel, to be used also as a day-school, has been erected and is about to be opened.” [SA Gazette & Mining Journal 13 Mar 1851]
"In 1850 Mr. T. Matthews gave the land now used as a cemetery, and money was raised by subscription for a schoolhouse, the building to be used on Sundays for divine worship by any Protestant denomination. Mr. Watt, a school teacher, who had been a Congregational minister, used to hold one service in the school each Sunday, and the Wesleyans another, but for some reason the Wesleyans again took to holding their services m private buildings.” [Chronicle 21 Aug 1909]
“Union Chapel, Coromandel Valley. Upper Sturt.— A social meeting of a very animating description was held here in the afternoon and evening of Good Friday, to celebrate the opening of the Chapel on the same day in 1851. The neat Chapel, which would have proved too small to accommodate many visitors in addition to its ordinary congregation, had its accommodations enlarged by a tent erected at the vestry end. . . the meeting broke up soon after 8 o'clock. Many friends from Adelaide were hospitably entertained at the house of T. Matthews, Esq., to whose exertions the erection of the Union Chapel is greatly due. Before the midnight hour Mr. Matthews ended his zealous attentions to the guests by accompanying many of them in the brilliant moonlight of this delightful evening through the wild and romantic road which, winding over the hilly range of the Brownhill Creek, alongside several deep ravines, terminates in the plains of Adelaide.” [Register 4 Apr 1853]
“MATTHEWS. —At Geelong, Victoria, on the 2nd September, Thomas Matthews, Esq., late of Coromandel Valley, aged 56 years.” [Advertiser 4 Sep 1867]