No. 75 - Christ Church - Prospect (1857)
Prospect is suburb of Launceston located between Summerhill and Prospect Vale. Several churches were established at Prospect in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These include a Christian Mission church (which became the Summerhill Baptist Church); a Church of Christ, (an outreach of the Margaret Street Church of Christ) and Christ Church Congregational church.
The Prospect Congregational Church opened in 1857 as a branch of the 'Christ Church' Congregational Church in Frederick Street, Launceston. 'Christ Church Prospect' was officially opened by Reverend Henry Dowling and Reverend Charles Price on April 10, 1857.
The church's establishment can be attributed to the work of Reverend William Law, who preached at Prospect Village in the mid 1850s. Before a church was built, Reverend Law conducted services at Mr Josiah Pitcher's Rising Sun Hotel. It was Pitcher who donated the land for the church as well as making a donation of £20 towards the building fund.
On the occasion of the church's 50th anniversary in 1907, the Daily Telegraph report of the celebrations reveal interesting details about both the building and the Prospect village community:
“The church is built of wood on a substantial stone foundation and looks very little the worse for the wear and tear of half a century's storms. The school was started with an attendance of thirty scholars, and it has steadily kept going ever since. Mr Edward Button, who at present holds the high position of a Judge of the Supreme Court in Wellington New Zealand, was the first superintendent, and held the position for many years”.
The Telegraph’s report continued:
“James Goodger, one of the original members of the church, gave an account of the opening ceremonies, and referred to the uphill work that had to be done, owing principally to the bad state of the roads. He also referred to the fact that in the early days bushrangers were encamped within a hundred yards of the church, and stuck up some of the residents. He paid a high tribute to the hard work done by the first [Sunday school] superintendent, Mr E. Button, who tramped the district time after time, visiting his scholars, with whom he was very popular”.
Remarkably, the founder of the church, the Reverend William Law, was present at the 50th Jubilee celebration. He recalled its early days:
“He stated that his first meetings were held in the open air until Josiah Pitcher came to his assistance, and allowed him the use of a room in which to hold the meetings. Mr Pitcher afterwards gave the land on which the church was built, and also assisted in the work by a donation. Mr Law then described many trials that he had to encounter with the blacks and bush rangers, who were at times were very troublesome. He referred to the great assistance rendered in the early days by his friends, Revs. Dowling and Charles Price. He also recounted many interesting events of the work done by helpers in connection with the church”.
Unfortunately the church did not see its centenary jubilee. On Tuesday 11 April 1944 the church was gutted in a fire. The Mercury reported:
"The Prospect branch of Christ Church Congregation...on the North-West Coast road near the residence of Alderman J. F. Ockerby, M.H.A. was completely destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The Launceston fire Brigade received the alarm at 10 50, but found on arrival that the church - an old-fashioned weatherboard building - was almost completely burnt down. It was considered futile to attempt any save, as the vicinity is not served by a water main....".
The Congregational community used the Summerhill Baptist Church until a new building was opened on the site in September 1952. A brick hall was built next to the new church in 1960. The church closed after the establishment of the Uniting Church in 1977. The church and neighbouring hall are now used by the Open Door Fellowship.
The church's cemetery contains some interesting stones which are a reminder of the community that once worshipped here. Amongst these are those of the Yorkshireman, John Featherstone Ockerby, a mayor of Launceston and Member of Parliament for Bass, after whom Ockerby Gardens in Launceston are named. It was Ockerby who called the Launceston Fire Brigade when the fire broke out in 1944.
The Prospect Congregational Church opened in 1857 as a branch of the 'Christ Church' Congregational Church in Frederick Street, Launceston. 'Christ Church Prospect' was officially opened by Reverend Henry Dowling and Reverend Charles Price on April 10, 1857.
The church's establishment can be attributed to the work of Reverend William Law, who preached at Prospect Village in the mid 1850s. Before a church was built, Reverend Law conducted services at Mr Josiah Pitcher's Rising Sun Hotel. It was Pitcher who donated the land for the church as well as making a donation of £20 towards the building fund.
On the occasion of the church's 50th anniversary in 1907, the Daily Telegraph report of the celebrations reveal interesting details about both the building and the Prospect village community:
“The church is built of wood on a substantial stone foundation and looks very little the worse for the wear and tear of half a century's storms. The school was started with an attendance of thirty scholars, and it has steadily kept going ever since. Mr Edward Button, who at present holds the high position of a Judge of the Supreme Court in Wellington New Zealand, was the first superintendent, and held the position for many years”.
The Telegraph’s report continued:
“James Goodger, one of the original members of the church, gave an account of the opening ceremonies, and referred to the uphill work that had to be done, owing principally to the bad state of the roads. He also referred to the fact that in the early days bushrangers were encamped within a hundred yards of the church, and stuck up some of the residents. He paid a high tribute to the hard work done by the first [Sunday school] superintendent, Mr E. Button, who tramped the district time after time, visiting his scholars, with whom he was very popular”.
Remarkably, the founder of the church, the Reverend William Law, was present at the 50th Jubilee celebration. He recalled its early days:
“He stated that his first meetings were held in the open air until Josiah Pitcher came to his assistance, and allowed him the use of a room in which to hold the meetings. Mr Pitcher afterwards gave the land on which the church was built, and also assisted in the work by a donation. Mr Law then described many trials that he had to encounter with the blacks and bush rangers, who were at times were very troublesome. He referred to the great assistance rendered in the early days by his friends, Revs. Dowling and Charles Price. He also recounted many interesting events of the work done by helpers in connection with the church”.
Unfortunately the church did not see its centenary jubilee. On Tuesday 11 April 1944 the church was gutted in a fire. The Mercury reported:
"The Prospect branch of Christ Church Congregation...on the North-West Coast road near the residence of Alderman J. F. Ockerby, M.H.A. was completely destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The Launceston fire Brigade received the alarm at 10 50, but found on arrival that the church - an old-fashioned weatherboard building - was almost completely burnt down. It was considered futile to attempt any save, as the vicinity is not served by a water main....".
The Congregational community used the Summerhill Baptist Church until a new building was opened on the site in September 1952. A brick hall was built next to the new church in 1960. The church closed after the establishment of the Uniting Church in 1977. The church and neighbouring hall are now used by the Open Door Fellowship.
The church's cemetery contains some interesting stones which are a reminder of the community that once worshipped here. Amongst these are those of the Yorkshireman, John Featherstone Ockerby, a mayor of Launceston and Member of Parliament for Bass, after whom Ockerby Gardens in Launceston are named. It was Ockerby who called the Launceston Fire Brigade when the fire broke out in 1944.
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| The original church built in 1857. Photograph: Harold Masters - QVMG - Registration number QVM 1987:P:0037 |
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| The Rising Sun Hotel where services were held before 'Christ Church Prospect' was built in 1857. The building stood on land now part of St Patrick's College. Photograph: Libraries Tasmania - Item Number: LPIC33/5/105 |
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| The new church built in 1952 - Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| Photo: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| The Mercury 1944 |
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| John Featherstone Ockerby: Photo - House of Assembly Long Room Picture: 404 |
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| Photo: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
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| Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
Sources:
Daily Telegraph Thursday 25 April 1907
The Examiner Monday 15 September 1952
The Mercury Wednesday 12 April 1944
Links to further information about the church's cemetery:
Link to news item on damage to graves: Here
A full list of those buried at this site can be found here: Graves
How wonderful. Rev. Dowling married my 3x great grandparents at his house as my 3x grandmother and her father worked for him as indentured servants.
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Thanks, Chris
Thank you. I will check it out.
DeleteIt is hard to imagine how different things were. It is great when we can connect personally with these histories. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Duncan I am related to Mr Edward Button and the first Mayor of Launceston, and as you mention the First Superintendent. I live in NZ. He was Born in Tasmania. Admitted to bar in Tasmania in 1861, and NZ in 1863. Married Louisa Cowell in 1862, 2 children. Practised in Hokitika NZ in partnership with W S Reid, then on his own. Mayor of Hokitika 1869; MP for Hokitika 1876-1878; admitted tp partnership Whitaker & Russell 1884. Mayor of Birkenhead 1888-1900; MP for City of Auckland 1893-1896; President Auckland District Law Society 1893-1900; prominent in Wesleyan Church. Retired from partnership of Buddle Button & Co in 1907 to take up appointment as temporary judge, Supreme Court, Wellington. Retired in 1908. Returned to Auckland and later practised in partnership with Morton Aldis & Aldis 1916-1917. Died 1920 aged 82. [Source: The Story of Bell Gully Buddle Weir / J Millen, 1990]
ReplyDeleteEdward's father, William Stammers Button was also associated with the Congregational Church and was a founding member of the Independent Church on Princes Square (Later Milton Hall). There is a Button Street in Launceston which I think is named in honour of William.
ReplyDelete