No. 113 - Exton Methodist Church - "An Ornament to the Township"
The village of Exton lies between the towns of Deloraine and
Westbury on the old Bass Highway. It was first known as Marsh Paddocks and developed as a small centre to serve the coaching industry.
The first Wesleyan church in Exton opened in 1855 but this was
replaced by new church in 1885. The old church was later used as a school house
and according to the 'Exton correspondent' in a report for The Tasmanian, it
was a rather rudimentary building:
“Speaking of the State school reminds me [of]...the
disgraceful state of this barn-like structure… it was used as a church by the
Wesleyans, to whom it belongs. They found it untenable in winter from its
increasing age, and so put their shoulders to the wheel and built something
that would keep out the weather, in the shape of a pretty little church which
stands opposite their old ' gunyah.' Yet still the Department of Education
continues to use this rough paling, gloomy old relic as a State school! The
teacher will have to have more hardness of heart than I give him credit for if
he tries to enforce the compulsory clause of the Education Act during the
promised rigours of the coming winter. Awake, people of Exton, and by
bestirring yourselves you may get a proper school building in a year or two”.
The “pretty little church” which replaced the “barn-like
structure” still stands off the highway but has now been converted into a
private residence.
After its opening there was little out of the ordinary in religious life at
the new Wesleyan church. In1885 the Daily Telegraph reported:
“The new Wesleyan Church here was
opened last Sunday by the Rev. B. T. Cox. It is a very handsome structure, capable
of seating 140 persons….The site is a splendid one, consisting of a quarter of
an acre, [it] is the gift of Henry Martin, Esq., of Exton. The congregations on
Sunday were large, several people [were] unable to get in…On Monday the inevitable tea
meeting was held, and the people came from far and near, nearly 300 being
present. The public meeting was presided over by the circuit minister, and
addresses were given by the Reverends Cox, Wykes and Tennent, and Mr S. Badcock…
This little church is an ornament to the township; the people have reason to be
proud of it”.
Families that were prominent in
the Exton Wesleyan and Methodist community include the Badcock’s, Walker’s, Layton’s
and Parsons. In 1912, 64 children were attending the Sunday school with 7
teachers in charge. But this era has long passed.
![]() |
Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
![]() |
Photograph: Duncan Grant 2018 |
![]() |
Examiner Wednesday 29 September1954 Page 18 |
Sources:
von Stieglitz, K.R. (1946). Then and now in old Westbury : with notes on Exton, Hagley and Carrick. Launceston: Telegraph Printery.
The Tasmanian Saturday 20 March 1886
Daily Telegraph Tuesday 15 December 1885
Henslowe, Dorothea (1978). Our heritage of Anglican churches in Tasmania. Moonah, Tasmania.
Comments
Post a Comment