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Strathalbyn St Andrews Uniting church
First church built 1844 as Presbyterian. New church (nave) opened 7 Jan 1849, transepts opened 26 Jun 1859, enlarged (architects Messrs English & Brown) 1865, bell 1868, tower 1869, porch 1938, became Uniting 1977. St Andrew’s Hall foundation stone 9 Oct 1911 by Matthew Rankine, designed by A Caldwell, opened 5 Feb 1912.
“When towards the end of 1840 the first families arrived at the new settlement yet to be named Strathalbyn, there was but one Presbyterian minister in the colony the Rev. Ralph Drummond, of the Gouger street Church, who, to make his first visit walked the road, such as it was, from Adelaide. From 1841 the Rev. Robert Haining. minister of the Established Church of Scotland, paid occasional visits. In 1844 a church was built, it soon became too small, and five years later a second and larger place of worship was opened. The manse was completed in 1854.” [Advertiser 11 Mar 1944]
“At Strathalbyn . . . On Sunday the 7th instant, a Scotch Church was opened by the Rev. Robert Haining of St. Andrews, Adelaide, who conducted the morning and evening services. The Rev. Mr Austin, who officiated in the afternoon, will preach once every Sunday until some permanent appointment can be made. The attendance at the opening amounted to about 140 persons.” [Adelaide Observer 27 Jan 1849]
“Opening services were held in the Free Presbyterian Church, Strathalbyn, on Sunday, the 26th June, on the occasion of the additions to the above place of worship being completed. . . The attendances at all the services were very numerous, averaging about 400 persons at each, the church being now capable of accommodating that number, though the number of regular sittings is about 340. The church is very substantially enlarged, and the fittings, seats, and the beautiful pulpit, are of a superior style and finish.” [Advertiser 18 Jul 1859]
“Messrs. English & Brown are just completing an addition to the Presbyterian Church at Strathalbyn, for which they have acted in the double capacity of builders and architects. The addition consists of a nave added to the former building, which now forms the transept, and the whole edifice presents a very handsome appearance. The front dressings are all of Portland cement, and the fresh pointing of the old masonry gives to the whole building a smart and elegant appearance. The interior will hold 500, and is furnished with an end gallery. A handsome spire, rising 80 feet from the ground, adds considerably to the beauty of the structure.” [Register 2 Aug 1866]
“The opening services were preached on the previous Sunday . . . and on Tuesday the proceedings consisted of a tea meeting in Mr Colman's store and a public meeting in the church. The building itself is certainly one of the noblest edifices of its kind in South Australia. Its architecture is imposing, and the execution of the design reflects great credit on Messrs English & Brown, who were the contractors for the work. The church has now 500 sittings, which have been gained by substituting a nave of large proportions for the old building which formerly stood at the back of the present transept. The fittings of the church are simple and in good taste.” [Southern Argus 1 Sep 1866]
“The splendid bell which was presented to the Presbyterian Church at Strathalbyn by Mr E. Stirling, was found on arrival to be too large to be accommodated in the bell tower of the church. . . A substantial framework of wood has therefore been erected on the southern side of the church, and on this the bell has been swung at a distance of about twelve feet from the ground.” [Southern Argus 1 Aug 1868]
“the new bell tower at the Presbyterian Church, Strathalbyn . . . The foundations have been got in, and the erection of the superstructure commenced. The tower is to be erected at the western end of the Church.” [Southern Argus 14 Aug 1869]
“On Monday last, the ceremony of laying the last brick of the newly-erected tower, recently added to the Presbyterian Church in Strathalbyn, was performed by the Hon. Thomas English, the architect of the building. In the morning a number of gentlemen accompanied the architect to the top of the building, and that gentleman having laid the last brick on one of the pinnacles, declared the tower, so far as the masonry was concerned, to be well and satisfactorily completed.” [Southern Argus 4 Dec 1869]
“ a very fine stained glass window was offered to the church, but the session declined to accept it owing to the figures being objected to, and it was returned to its donor! . . . The introdution of instrumental music in the services led to a good deal of friction, and some of the old presbyterians hotly resented the innovation, a few leaving the church altogether, but the storm soon subsided.” [Southern Argus 8 Apr 1897]
“St. Andrew's Hall . . . will stand at the east of the church, facing the front of the stately building, on a block of land generously given to the trustees by Mr. M. Rankine, and its architecture will not be out of character with the church.” [Southern Argus 12 Oct 1911]
“The Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly (Right Rev. E. W. Hogben) will dedicate a new church porch at Strathalbyn this afternoon.” [Advertiser 22 Oct 1938]
“A beautifully polished slab of granite with the words 'To the Glory of God this stone commemorating the centenary of St. Andrew's Church, 1844-1944, was laid on 26th March, 1944' was placed in position on Saturday afternoon by Mr. Bert Joy, after which Colin Brideson, the winner of the Centenary essay called for in connection with the occasion, declared the stone 'well and truly laid to the Glory of God as a memorial of the centenary of this St. Andrew's Church this year of grace, 1944’. . . The tablet had been presented by Mrs. H. J. Tucker, and the church officials were grateful to that lady for her generosity.” [Southern Argus 30 Mar 1944]
Strathalbyn St Andrews Uniting church
First church built 1844 as Presbyterian. New church (nave) opened 7 Jan 1849, transepts opened 26 Jun 1859, enlarged (architects Messrs English & Brown) 1865, bell 1868, tower 1869, porch 1938, became Uniting 1977. St Andrew’s Hall foundation stone 9 Oct 1911 by Matthew Rankine, designed by A Caldwell, opened 5 Feb 1912.
“When towards the end of 1840 the first families arrived at the new settlement yet to be named Strathalbyn, there was but one Presbyterian minister in the colony the Rev. Ralph Drummond, of the Gouger street Church, who, to make his first visit walked the road, such as it was, from Adelaide. From 1841 the Rev. Robert Haining. minister of the Established Church of Scotland, paid occasional visits. In 1844 a church was built, it soon became too small, and five years later a second and larger place of worship was opened. The manse was completed in 1854.” [Advertiser 11 Mar 1944]
“At Strathalbyn . . . On Sunday the 7th instant, a Scotch Church was opened by the Rev. Robert Haining of St. Andrews, Adelaide, who conducted the morning and evening services. The Rev. Mr Austin, who officiated in the afternoon, will preach once every Sunday until some permanent appointment can be made. The attendance at the opening amounted to about 140 persons.” [Adelaide Observer 27 Jan 1849]
“Opening services were held in the Free Presbyterian Church, Strathalbyn, on Sunday, the 26th June, on the occasion of the additions to the above place of worship being completed. . . The attendances at all the services were very numerous, averaging about 400 persons at each, the church being now capable of accommodating that number, though the number of regular sittings is about 340. The church is very substantially enlarged, and the fittings, seats, and the beautiful pulpit, are of a superior style and finish.” [Advertiser 18 Jul 1859]
“Messrs. English & Brown are just completing an addition to the Presbyterian Church at Strathalbyn, for which they have acted in the double capacity of builders and architects. The addition consists of a nave added to the former building, which now forms the transept, and the whole edifice presents a very handsome appearance. The front dressings are all of Portland cement, and the fresh pointing of the old masonry gives to the whole building a smart and elegant appearance. The interior will hold 500, and is furnished with an end gallery. A handsome spire, rising 80 feet from the ground, adds considerably to the beauty of the structure.” [Register 2 Aug 1866]
“The opening services were preached on the previous Sunday . . . and on Tuesday the proceedings consisted of a tea meeting in Mr Colman's store and a public meeting in the church. The building itself is certainly one of the noblest edifices of its kind in South Australia. Its architecture is imposing, and the execution of the design reflects great credit on Messrs English & Brown, who were the contractors for the work. The church has now 500 sittings, which have been gained by substituting a nave of large proportions for the old building which formerly stood at the back of the present transept. The fittings of the church are simple and in good taste.” [Southern Argus 1 Sep 1866]
“The splendid bell which was presented to the Presbyterian Church at Strathalbyn by Mr E. Stirling, was found on arrival to be too large to be accommodated in the bell tower of the church. . . A substantial framework of wood has therefore been erected on the southern side of the church, and on this the bell has been swung at a distance of about twelve feet from the ground.” [Southern Argus 1 Aug 1868]
“the new bell tower at the Presbyterian Church, Strathalbyn . . . The foundations have been got in, and the erection of the superstructure commenced. The tower is to be erected at the western end of the Church.” [Southern Argus 14 Aug 1869]
“On Monday last, the ceremony of laying the last brick of the newly-erected tower, recently added to the Presbyterian Church in Strathalbyn, was performed by the Hon. Thomas English, the architect of the building. In the morning a number of gentlemen accompanied the architect to the top of the building, and that gentleman having laid the last brick on one of the pinnacles, declared the tower, so far as the masonry was concerned, to be well and satisfactorily completed.” [Southern Argus 4 Dec 1869]
“ a very fine stained glass window was offered to the church, but the session declined to accept it owing to the figures being objected to, and it was returned to its donor! . . . The introdution of instrumental music in the services led to a good deal of friction, and some of the old presbyterians hotly resented the innovation, a few leaving the church altogether, but the storm soon subsided.” [Southern Argus 8 Apr 1897]
“St. Andrew's Hall . . . will stand at the east of the church, facing the front of the stately building, on a block of land generously given to the trustees by Mr. M. Rankine, and its architecture will not be out of character with the church.” [Southern Argus 12 Oct 1911]
“The Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly (Right Rev. E. W. Hogben) will dedicate a new church porch at Strathalbyn this afternoon.” [Advertiser 22 Oct 1938]
“A beautifully polished slab of granite with the words 'To the Glory of God this stone commemorating the centenary of St. Andrew's Church, 1844-1944, was laid on 26th March, 1944' was placed in position on Saturday afternoon by Mr. Bert Joy, after which Colin Brideson, the winner of the Centenary essay called for in connection with the occasion, declared the stone 'well and truly laid to the Glory of God as a memorial of the centenary of this St. Andrew's Church this year of grace, 1944’. . . The tablet had been presented by Mrs. H. J. Tucker, and the church officials were grateful to that lady for her generosity.” [Southern Argus 30 Mar 1944]