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Land For The ChurchIn
1864 Capt. Adam Robertson gave a site for a Church on the
north‑west corner of Section 5458 within a stone's throw
of the school and public cemetery.The building committee
consisted of Messrs. J.Smart, Charles Smart, Robert Smyth Snr.,
J. Robertson, Peter Little, David Dow, Eli Gate, John Byers and
Robert McEwin.
Laying of The Foundation Stone
Rev. Ralph Drummond laid the foundation stone on 24th July,
1865.
The document deposited under the foundation stone reads :--
"This
document is deposited under the corner‑stone of a new
edifice to be erected for the use of the Presbyterian Church,
Golden Grove, to the praise and honour of the one only God, ever
blessed Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to whom be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. The stone is laid by the Rev. Ralph
Drummond on this 24th day of July, 1865 being the 29th year of
the reign of Her Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, and the
29th year from the foundation of the Colony, and the fourth year
of the Governorship of Sir Dominic Daly. Trustees are J.
Robertson, Robert Smart, James Dow, Robert McEwin, Robert Smyth
Snr., John Byers and Peter Little. John Johnson (Contractor), E.
Walters (Builder), W.B.Coston (Secretary)."
"Arise
ye and build the sanctuary of the Lord. Other foundations can no
man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Let the beauty
of the Lord our.God be upon us, and establish Thou the work of
our hands upon us; yea the work of our hands establish Thou
it."
The
Church
The Church dimensions were " length 40' in the clear by 28'
in width, height of walls from the ground 15', two rooms to be
built at the end for a vestry and sitting room".
The building cost £550.
All internal fittings were made and fixed by Mr. Joseph Blake,
of Smithfield
Insurance
The Church was insured for £100; Furniture and fittings £70,
and Organ £30
Opening Service
After the opening service £200 was owing, which was
cleared the following year.
A record in Roman numerals on a stone above the entrance porch
testifies to the opening date being 24th June, 1866.
Rev. John Gardener conducted the Opening Services. The Trustees
were Messrs. R. Smart, J. Dow, J. Robertson, R. Smyth, P. Little
and R. Kirk.
Properties to Presbytery
At a November meeting of Presbytery in 1875, Mr. J. Robertson
reported that he had set aside some land (17 acres) for a Glebe,
and asked for advice as to whom this land and the site for a
church, previously given, should be conveyed.
In 1894 the Golden Grove Church properties were conveyed to
Presbytery.
Manse
The erection of the manse began in 1854. Stone was raised and
carted to the site by free labour.
Building was done as funds were available and it was eventually
completed in 1876. The Rev. R. Ferguson, then resigned his
Salisbury charge and took up residence in the new manse.
From 1885 to 1892 Mr. Henry J. Congreve, editor of the Gawler
"Bunyip" combined Golden Grove with his Smithfield
pastorate. He drove to Golden Grove for the morning service, and
on the return afternoon trip held a Church Service at
Smithfield. For these services he received £1weekly.
Permanent Minister
There was a growing need for a resident minister in the Golden
Grove district. A letter forwarded to Presbytery asked for a
minister to be established at the Manse at £100 a year.
In 1894 Mr. James Anderson, a student, was appointed by the Home
Mission Committee to take charge of the work.
In January 1904 he transferred to Monarto-Murray Bridge district
and Mr. Henry J. White, a home missionary, was put in charge.
New members were added to the Church, and a mid‑week Bible
Class was established as well as a preaching place at Yatala
Vale.
Church Hall
To meet the growing demands of the district a galvanised iron
hall was purchased, erected and refitted.
From 1946 to 1975 it served as a meeting place for church
activities.
Centenery Celebrations
A capacity congregation filled the church and overflowed
into an annexe in the grounds to mark the centenary of the
Church on June 24th, 1966.
The Rev. David Hodges, Minister of Scots Church, Adelaide,
conducted the service, at which the Moderator of the
Presbyterian Church of South Australia, the Right Rev.E.E.
Gowers, preached the sermon. Elders from Scots Church,
Adelaide Sir Lyell McEwin and Senator Gordon Davidson extended
greetings to the congregation, many of whom were
descendants of early pioneer families.
Children present at the 100th anniversary were presented with
centenary tokens by Mrs. S. Champion of St. Peters congregation.
A Memorial Garden was laid out to mark this historic occasion.
Church Furnishings
In 1972 a Cross of enamelled copper metal, with
timber surround was made by the
Youth Club and placed on the sanctuary wall.
The Church Bell
given by the Gawler Presbyterian Church is used to herald the
commencement of worship services
In 1973 a Memorial
Lectern and Bible were placed in the Church in memory of
Mr. Grove S. Tilley, who for many years had been an active elder
and had rendered stirling service to the Church.
In the winter of 1974 four gas heaters were installed - two in the church, one in
the hall and the other in the creche. The same year, velvet
curtains, a Communion Table and carpeting for entrance and
aisles further enhanced the church interior.
In 1976 a Baptismal
Font in similar design and wood to the Memorial Lectern
was.placed in the Church and a Conn Electronic Organ replaced
the pedal organ, which had faithfully served the Church for many
years. A Display Cabinet in memory of Mrs. Eva Isabel Crouch is
in the entrance to the Church Hall and the original Bible used
in the early days can be seen on display.
A Communion
TableFontal was dedicated in memory of Cath
McKechnie's father, in 1983.Blue
Cushions to match existing furnishings were a gift in
1985 and these have added greatly to the decor of the Church and
congregational comfort.
New Church Hall
The army hut which had given many years of useful service
had become inadequate. At a congregational meeting in April,
1974 plans were approved for the erection of a Hall attached to
the church. This included the Minister's Vestry, Creche and
Kitchen. In order to achieve this, Scots Church granted a loan
of $20,000. Both skilled and unskilled labour offered in a
voluntary capacity helped to keep the cost of the project within
the limits of the loan.
A Service of Dedication was held on the 7th December, 1974 at
which the Rev. Ian B. Tanner and the Rev. Rod Jepsen officiated.
A wall plaque commemorating the occasion, was unveiled.
INAUGURATION
OF THE UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA
The culmination of
many years of discussion and planning within the
Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches in Australia
came to fruition in June 1977. The birth of the Uniting Church
in Australia was ushered in on the 22nd June through a T.V.
Service from Sydney Town Hall
Thus this church
became ‘Golden Grove
Uniting Church’
New Sunday School
Hall
Building of a new Sunday School Hall commenced in 1983 and it
was fitting that the Rev. Brian Ball conduct the service for the
opening of the building on Sunday, 12th February 1984. The hall
was dedicated by the Rev. Michael Sawyer, Moderator of the S.A.
Synod of Uniting Church.
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