Geelong, VIC - Baptist

History and Architecture:

Services began in Father Matthews Temperance Hall, with Mr S. Trotinan discharging official duties in 1849. The Group purchased a brick hall located off Corio Street at auction on the 29O November 1849. This congregation suffered as a result of Gold Fever and the church died. The remaining few Baptists formed the Particular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, which met in a chapel off Yarra Street. The Church was officially constituted on the 8th February 1852 and the Rev. Samuel Hewlett was appointed. Land in Aberdeen Street was donated by Messrs Geo. Board and John Matthews and a large freestone structure, designed by John Young of Geelong, was built at a cost of £5,000.

The Church officially opened early in 1854. A vestry and meeting room were added to the rear of the church in 1856, but these were later demolished and replaced. A new Italian Romanesque style church, designed by Thomas Watts, was built a little to the west of the first church building in 1876. The memorial stone was laid on the 10 April, with the building eventually costing £4,500. The new church was opened on the 19th November and the first church continued to be used as a Sunday School. In 1889, a block in Aberdeen Street, east of the church buildings was bought as the site for a future manse. In 1891, a two storey brick residence designed by A.J. Derrick, was constructed. Both church buildings continue to be used for church purposes today.

The Foundation stone was laid on 19 April 1876 by Mr Charles Andrews.