Why churches close

THESE ARE ALL CLOSED CHURCHES WHICH ARE ARCHIVED HERE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES. They do not include "Amalgamated" churches where 2 or more churches form into one church.

These files are unedited as well. They are for research purposes.
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Contrastingly, all of these churches changed their services out of FEWER PEOPLE ATTENDING - where there was LESS growth.

APOSTOLIC CHURCH CLOSES.
Lighthouse Christian Church NEW APOSTOLIC at Red Cross Hall Hall Lane Near Olypic L and Neil Sts.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 5 people present.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 10% filled .
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: One 10yo.
6. Ages of people: 60, 40, 52, 48.
7. % are men. All women but the pastor.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: I asked "What is one lesson you learned from Pastoring." Heather said "After 3 or 4 years of ministry we needed to learn to go God's way and not man's way in following our Area supervisor's ideas, you just know when your off the track, we now go to Ps Nev's church at Agape. The church ended end of 2000, money wasn't a problem. We were the same breed of spirit filled Apostolic churches as the Harlaxton Apostolic but we are not related at all to Queensland Apostolics in Geddes St.".
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 5 mins.
12. Length of service: -.
13. This and other service times: 10am.
14. Preacher: Leaders Garry & Heather Connolly.
15. Feeling of building: -.
16. Estimate style of belief: Spirit filled.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.

THIS SERVICE HAS CLOSED. NO LONGER EXISTS.
6pm. TOOWOOMBA APOSTOLIC Church formerly of 40-42 Gleeson Crescent Toowoomba.
1. Number of people: Six.
2. Number of chairs: 40.
3. Type of person: No aborigines.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: Three.
6. Ages of people: Three 60+.
7. 50% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
10. Any other interesting information: The church had 40 - 50 people before Ps Garry Connolly took over (See Agape church for his position in 2003/2004), he took some of the members by starting another church in the Red Cross Hall (This had some 5 people in it. See the file "arcclos" for "Archive of Closed Churches" then the entry "Lighthouse Christian Church NEW APOSTOLIC" - it did not materialise into anything, however the Harlaxton work dropped down from 40-50 to ten people and never recovered from then until the sale of the building said an Apostolic Pastor. Two other parishioners also said "This church used to be really full!"
11. Time there AND date of visit: 23/9/01 6.15pm-6.50pm.
12. Length of service: 1 hour.
13. This and other service times: 6pm, 10am.
14. Preacher: Ps Vince Nuggins. Former pastor Garry Connolly.
15. Feeling of building: -.
16. Estimate style of belief: Charismatic.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual.
18. How to get there: Same.

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HOW 100 CATHOLICS LEFT THE CHURCH. About 100 Catholics left ST ANTHONYS church. A Priest was on long service leave and they found it really hard getting two priests from Brisbane regularly. So many of the parishioners left the church as a result. Many of the Parishioners permanently left, most for St Patricks Cathedral. There were 314 people in the two services measured in 2000. Today there were only 220 which is a drop of 94 people. This culminated into the dropping of one entire service. Now there is one mass at 8.30am. There were two services at 7am and 9.30am, SEE THE FORMER SERVICES BELOW.

9.30am CATHOLIC. ST ANTHONYS. Memory St.

1. 189 minimum people. (Maximum people: At one time there was 320 people there due to large religious skit from the school. The school is on the church property grounds.)
2. 350 available chairs.
3. School focused types.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Normal.
5. Many kids.
6. Mostly families.
7. Men 50%.
8. Offering $1577.
9. 20 late.
*10. (They had some 15 6-7 yo kids parade from foyer to alter holding some candles and then had some 30 kids on stage singing us a song. Everybody loved it. (I have never considered making young kids a PART of church.)
11. 5/11/00 10.20am-10.30am (Early 2000 9.30-9.50 am.)
12. Service finished in 1 hour.
13. Service time- 9.30am. Other times- 7am, No pm Sun, 6pm Sat
14. Preacher: (German 3 week missionary from Sydney.)
15. Very attractive to families if Catholic.
*16. Almost every Catholic church has a Charismatic prayer group. They have an Informal Support group "for those members effected by the Magnificant Meal Movement." The newsletter also has 2 good ideas. If someone sees a need in the Parish a form can be filled out. A great idea is this, there is a list of new members who give a brief description about themselves on the newsletter (Most were teachers). 17: Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel toward Harristown State High, head toward Uni going south along West St turn right or west at South Sts turn right at Justin St.

7am CATHOLIC ST ANTHONYS. Address: Memory St.

1. # of people: 125.
2. Available chairs: 350.
3. Type of person: Many teachers.
4. Socio- Economic Status: Mildly professional.
5. Kids: 5.
6. Ages: 40+
7. Men: 50%
8. Offering: $1577
9. Late arrivals: -.
*10. Interesting info: I talked to a non-church going man who was often in court for many mild offences and he assured me a Catholic priest was going to convince God he should be let in anyway.
11. Date & Time spent: 5/11/00.
12. When service finished. 50 mins.
13. This & other service times: 7am. 9.30, 6pm Sat.
14. Preacher: Resident priest.
*15. Feeling: Bit empty, bit cold. When it came to "handshake time" I was stunned to see no one moved from their seat but the priest by himself who went up the whole aisle way while others stopped shaking hands all together.
*16. Their belief: Helidon Catholic Church had prayer meeting for members of the Magnificant Meal Movement to return to the Catholic Church (5/11/00.)
17. Dress code: Casual.
18. How to get there: Travel toward Harristown State High, head toward Uni going south along West St turn right or west at South Sts turn right at Justin St.

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6.00pm at Winter. 6.30pm at Summer. WESTSIDE Christian Church AOG. Corner Stephen and West Sts.

(This service no longer exists. Date Early 2004)

1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 27. A few people said "So many people here tonight, there's usually only about 6 people here."
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 125.
3. Type of person: Blue collar Charismatics.
4. Socio-Economic Status: Working.
5. Amount of kids: 7.
6. Ages of people: 3 x 50+; 7 x 20-; 4 x 40- 50; 13 x 20- 40.
7. Seven of the 20 adults were men or one third.
*8. Weekly offering published: $1420 RECEIVED. $1197 is the "Current Weekly Need."
9. Lateness of people getting to church: The church itself was late, starting 12 mins late.
10. Any other interesting information: -.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 6pm - 7pm 17/11/02. Some 6 other times.
12. Length of service: -.
13. This and other service times: 6.30pm. (Please note the church board is not right, the times are 6.00pm at Winter. 6.30pm at Summer.) 9.30am.
14. Preacher: Ps Joe Casey.
15. Feeling of building: OK.
*16. Estimate style of belief: Someone said "Our Pastor, if he doesn't like the look of you, will put you straight and he won't care if you leave."
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual.
18. How to get there: Travel south to Uni along West St, Turn right into Stephen St.
*25. EMPHASIS OF MINISTRY: They have a strong Seniors ministry.
28. KNOWABLE SONGS: Good.
34. Amount of home groups: 4.
43. Sunday School availability: Yes, in the morning, ages 4yo-12yo.
49. How many missionaries do they support: One aboriginal in South Australia; 2 kids for food; One Australian in South Africa.

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7pm 1st Sunday of month only. ST LUKES. ANGLICAN. Ruthven and Herries Sts. EVENSONG (A praise and worship service.)

(This service no longer exists. Date Early 2004)

***1. # of people: 14 (the church unofficially said 23 came to it, however the numbers listed here are always THE MINIMUM amount which come to the service, or actual people in the church at one seating, not the maximum amount of people who might come or are members or who regularly come.)
*2. Empty chairs: We again sat in the choir seats which number 40 only as the church is too big as it seats 370.)
3. Type of person: Older musical very traditional type. 4.Socio-Economic Status: Middle. 5. Kids: 0. 6. Ages: 60+ 7. Men: 50%
*8. Offering: It's no secret Anglicans universally do poorly in all offerings.
9. Late arrivals:0.
*10. Interesting info: Service consisted of chanting prayers back and forth, all old hymns. No preaching. Nice organ.
11. Time spent: 6.45pm-7.45pm
12. When service finished. 7.40pm (40 mins long.)
13. This & other service times: 7pm 1st Sund of month only. 7am, 9.30am, 5.30pm.
14. Preacher: Rev'd Richard Tutin (Rector)
15. Feeling: A bit cold, needs more warmth.
*16. Their belief: This is what they typically mean as being "High Anglican." In that religious culture and symbolism are important. 17. Dress code: Smart casual.

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6.30pm Saturday. LIVING GRACE LUTHERAN COMMUNITY CHURCH (SONDOWN SERVICE. At the Concordia Lutheran Secondary school Chapel) Address:
1. # of people: 38.
2. Chairs: Seats 550.
3. Type of person: Perhaps Lutherans who appreciate a slightly more formal styled worship.
4. Socio- Economic Status: -.
5. Kids: A few.
*6. Ages: About 15 of the borders at Concordia go but weren't here this week as sometimes they have free weekends.
7. Men: Some 50%
8. Offering: -.
9. Late arrivals: -.
10. Interesting info: This service started late 2001.
11. Date & Time spent: 17/2/02 6pm-7.15pm.
12. Length of service. 1hr 20m.
13. This & other service times: 6.30pm Saturdays; 10.00am Sundays. Livet is on 2nd Sunday each month 6.30pm.
14. Preacher: Rev Dr Edgar Mayer.
15. Feeling: OK.
16. Their belief: Perhaps a slightly more conservative congregation. 17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casually smart.
18. How to get there: Travel to south of the city to South St along Ruthven St or West St. Turn west (Oakey side) going up South St, pass Harristown school on the left.

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THIS SERVICE AND CHURCH HAS CLOSED.

Was on 10am 2nd Wedn/month. LIVING WATERS INTERNATIONAL in Drayton Hall Drayton Rd. Was there 13 Aug 2003 till 2006.

1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 4.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 30.
3. Type of person: Letterbox delivery business persons, Vet surgeons wife, Army Officers wife.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: 0.
6. Ages of people: 20-55.
7. 25% are men.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: 0.
10. Any other interesting information: THIS CHURCH HAS ADVERTISED IN THE LOCAL PAPER. I had no idea who they were. No one knew. I had written a report but in reflection, I would have to say that this was one of the most different meetings I have been to. When I came in, there was not one person seated in the hall, other than the 4 leaders which were the door steward, the preacher, the overhead projectionist and one back up singer, there was not one member of the public there. The meetings had been going for 5 months. Also, this small team of people have gone into Nursing homes etc and they tried to "pray for the sick and get people saved." This resulted in them having been asked by at least one nursing home to essentially "leave and not come back". 100% of the people involved are from Brisbane yet the leader of this group is a Toowoomba person, originally from Christian Outreach Centre Toowoomba who now spends most of their time going to Clark Taylors church in Brisbane being trained in areas of ministry. Yet Living Waters is technically not a church but an evangelism activity being run independently by Nerida Dixon. There are 2 "net cells" or home based churches which are directly being run by Clark Taylors church which Nerida also attends. Nerida intends or has attempted to work with other churches like Bridge church to place converts in.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: 13 Aug 2003 10.10am- 12.10pm.
12. Length of service: 1 hour.
13. This and other service times: This meeting is only held once a month. 10am 2nd Wednesday of the month only. They said "We've had 5 meetings." Which thus means the meetings started circa 12 March 2003.
14. Preacher: Nerida Dixon. Quote- "I just didn't know WHAT to preach..."
15. Feeling of building: The hall is a bit cool and dark.
16. Estimate style of belief: Nerida comes from Clark Taylors church (Worship and Ministry Centre, Brisbane) recently and Christian Outreach Centre Toowoomba originally so she has those kinds of beliefs. See those churches for information.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel South along Drayton Rd till Drayton.

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10am TOOWOOMBA TABERNACLE (John G Lake Ministries Australia) 4 Hall Lane (Red Cross Room)
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 8.
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: 30.
3. Type of person: -.
4. Socio-Economic Status: -.
5. Amount of kids: 3.
6. Ages of people: Under 40.
7. % are men. -.
8. Weekly offering published: -.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
**10. Any other interesting information: Darren Brunne came from Vineyard Fellowship in Brisbane, married the secretary of a large charismatic church on the north side of Brisbane. Came to Toowoomba 1999/ 2000, was an associate Pastor at Range Christian Fellowship in 2001. Began schools of healing with this church and Abundant Life Fellowship mainly. With Curry Blake who heads John G Lake Ministries in the USA. Darren is the Australian national co-ordinator. Darren has been to Melbourne conducting training schools, when Curry Blake could not make it to Australia the 2nd time. Darren has almost completed the training in the USA circa late 2001/ early 2002.
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: -.
12. Length of service: -.
*13. This and other service times: 10am. This church began operation in Oct 2002.
*14. Preacher: Darren Brunne.
15. Feeling of building: OK.
***16. Estimate style of belief: That you can become a "qualified healing technician" by doing training. Before you can graduate you need to cure someone through Jesus Christ's name of a completely incurable disease. No one has yet not been able to graduate. There are no costs for the courses. Healing rooms were started by John G Lake, a name almost all charismatics know well, being from early in the 20th century. He prophesied someone would take his place. Curry Blake, in his 40's, has taken this position.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual.
18. How to get there: Travel towards town or going east along Herries, cross Ruthven, turn left or north into Annand St, turn right up the Hall lane just past the Post Office.

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POTTERS HOUSE in Warwick St closed in about 2000 after trying for some 12 years to break into the church scene. Their head church is in Perth. Most of the church now go to New Hope.

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KEITH AND TAMARAS CHURCH CLOSED.

DUNAMIS Christian Centre (Christian Life Centres International) (Trevor Chandler) Address: CWA HALL from Inception till 24/9/00; Their home for 4 Sundays; Russel St Near Neil St old Eagle Boys site. 1. # of people: 10 2. Empty chairs: 20 3. Type of person: All are ex-Dunamis people out from their large church in Logan near the Hyperdome where there are “3-400 in 1st service, 800 2nd service and 800 night service where there are many ex-COC people” said Senior Associate Pastor Ted Pangilinan who preached there that morning. 4. Class: Fills a needed gap between the “D audience” of COC and snobbish element of AOG. 5. Kids: Many-4 6. Ages: Young 7. Men: 3 8. Offering: Not given 9. Late arrivals: - 10. Interesting info: Keith & Tam are old friends and have come out of mild leadership positions at TCC. They used to live in Brisbane 2 years ago (1998) for 6 months studying at Uni where got to know Dunamis. 11. Date & Time spent: 24/9/00 10.15am-11.30am 12. When service finished. 10.30am 13. This & other service times: 9am 6pm 14. Preacher: District Pastor: Keith & Tamara Lynch 15. Feeling: Pretty good. 16. Their belief: Charismatic/ Pentecostal. Trevor Chandler is one of the founders of the Charismatic movement in this state and now is retired from his long standing New Farm Church which has a professional theatre and is now at Dunamis.

CALVARY CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Russel St near Neil. Address: 1. # of people: 9. 9am. 2. Available chairs: 40 chairs all up. 3. Type of person: Ex Dunamis people. 4. Class: 5. Kids: 2. 6. Ages: 0-50yo. 7. Men: 50% 8. Offering: not given 9. Late arrivals:- 10. Interesting info: Calvary has seperated itself from Dunamis, Keith having originally gone underneath them. Technically are with CLCI, Christian Life Centre International. 11. Date & Time spent: 7/1/01 10.15pm-11.50am. 12. When service finished. 1hr 35m service. 13. This & other service times: 9am 6pm 14. Preacher: Ps Keith Lynch. 15. Feeling: Air conditioned building with 6 other rooms. 16. Their belief: Pentecostal/ Charismatic. 17. Dress code: Casual to formal.

DUNAMIS CLC Christian . Now called Calvary Christian Church and moved to Russel St near Neil. (Old Eagle Boys site) (Christian Life Centres International) (Trevor Chandler) Address: CWA HALL from Inception till 24/9/00; Their home for 4 Sundays; Russel St Near Neil St old Eagle Boys site. 1. # of people: 10 2. Empty chairs: 20 3. Type of person: All are ex-Dunamis people out from their large church in Logan near the Hyperdome where there are “3-400 in 1st service, 800 2nd service and 800 night service where there are many ‘ex-COC’ people” said Senior Associate Pastor Ted Pangilinan who preached there that morning. 4. Class: Middle. 5. Kids: 4. 6. Ages: Young 7. Men: 3 8. Offering: Not given 9. Late arrivals: - 10. Interesting info: Keith & Tamara Lynch have come out of mild leadership positions at TCC. They used to live in Brisbane 2 years ago (1998) for 6 months studying at Uni where got to know Dunamis. 11. Date & Time spent: 24/9/00 10.15am-11.30am 12. When service finished. 10.30am 13. This & other service times: 9am 6pm 14. Preacher: District Pastor: Keith & Tamara Lynch 15. Feeling: Pretty good. 16. Their belief: Charismatic/ Pentecostal. Trevor Chandler is one of the founders of the Charismatic movement in this state and now is retired from his long standing New Farm Church which has a professional theatre and he is now at Dunamis.

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JESUS TENT OF MIRACLE SUNDAY MORNINGS CLOSE.
Jesus Tent of Miracles held Sunday morning services for almost 1 year ending about March 2001 perhaps due to no Pastor in Toowoomba. However, it has re-opened and closed several times.

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Raff St Uniting closed down in late 80's or early 90's and is now the Choral Society.

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Uniting church next door or north of the Empire Theatre closed down and now the Empire owns it. (The building to the south of the Empire is the Freemasonry Lodge.)

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THE SHRINE, CATHOLIC. This used to be a church in the city at Ruthven and Union Sts but it’s closed down and is a book shop and offices.

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ALTHOUGH THIS CHURCH SERVICE NO LONGER EXISTS as of pre-Nov 2002. YOU CAN STILL SEE FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT HAPPENED TO PS ALAN MAXWELL.

7pm Wednesdays BASEMENT CHURCH at Neil St entance of Toowoomba City Church
1. Number of people: 20 (Half or 11 of the 20 are non-leaders from TCC). 2. Number of chairs: 50.
*3. Type of person: Normal church people/ leaders plus the very poor and socially outcaste.
*4. Socio-Economic Status: Very low. 5. Amount of kids: Couple. 6. Ages of people: 8yo-70yo. 7. 50% are men. 8. Weekly offering published: -. 9. Lateness of people getting to church: -.
**10. Any other interesting information: Only 6 people remained by 8.45pm as it was getting too long for them. Ps Alan Maxwell finished up at the end of 2000 and soon joined Shiloh Church and in mid 2001 left his Toowoomba City Church job making furniture with volunteer young men at Timber Tyme, Bridge and Mort St. In September 2001 he raised enough money to start a mechanical business using volunteer young men right next door to Timber Tyme factory. He was also given the title "Youth for Christ Director." Alan organised for people to re-start the very popular magazine of Christian businesses "Toowoomba's Christian Directory." He finished with Youth for Christ in about 2001. He then held church fellowship meetings in his home beginning in very close to 2001. In 2004 this group calls itself "The Cellar" - see page "CeToCh" for details. 11. Time there AND date of visit: 25/11/00 7pm-9.30pm. 12. Length of service: 2.25 hours. 13. This and other service times: 7pm. 14. Preacher: -. 15. Feeling of building: ok. 16. Estimate style of belief: Charismatic. 17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart. 18. How to get there: -.

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