No. 305 - The Richmond Hill Methodist Church
The former Richmond Hill Methodist church was situated at Kayena on the Tamar River. Kayena had previously been known as Richmond Hill, hence the name of the church.
In November 1914, the Methodist synod granted permission for the removal of a church at Beauty Point to Richmond Hill. The Beauty Point Church had in fact been a classroom at Beaconsfield and had been removed at the end of the mining boom. In 1915, a team of bullocks transported the church for the second time to its final location at Richmond Hill.
In Max Stansall’s Tasmanian Methodism, he makes mention of the church’s organ and a memorial tree.
“At the outset the Church had no organ, but a Mr Whitfield, who often holidayed in the district, would have his organ strapped to his back and carry it a mile to provide music for the services of worship….”
Stanall adds:
“In 1947 a silver weeping birch was planted in memory of John Graham who was a pioneer of work here”.
When the church was sold, the bronze plaque on the birch tree was relocated to the interior of the Rowella Hall.
In 1978 the church became part of the Uniting Church. It closed on the 27th July 1980 and was subsequently demolished. I have not been able to locate a more recent photograph of the church and have unfortunately misplaced the source of the photograph used to illustrate this blog entry. I intend to update this article at a future date.
In November 1914, the Methodist synod granted permission for the removal of a church at Beauty Point to Richmond Hill. The Beauty Point Church had in fact been a classroom at Beaconsfield and had been removed at the end of the mining boom. In 1915, a team of bullocks transported the church for the second time to its final location at Richmond Hill.
In Max Stansall’s Tasmanian Methodism, he makes mention of the church’s organ and a memorial tree.
“At the outset the Church had no organ, but a Mr Whitfield, who often holidayed in the district, would have his organ strapped to his back and carry it a mile to provide music for the services of worship….”
Stanall adds:
“In 1947 a silver weeping birch was planted in memory of John Graham who was a pioneer of work here”.
When the church was sold, the bronze plaque on the birch tree was relocated to the interior of the Rowella Hall.
In 1978 the church became part of the Uniting Church. It closed on the 27th July 1980 and was subsequently demolished. I have not been able to locate a more recent photograph of the church and have unfortunately misplaced the source of the photograph used to illustrate this blog entry. I intend to update this article at a future date.
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| An early photograph of the Richmond Hill Church - source unknown. |
Sources:
The Examiner, Saturday 14 November 1914, page 10.
Stansall, M. E. J and Methodist Church of Australasia Tasmanian Methodism, 1820-1975 : compiled at the time of last Meeting of Methodism prior to union. Methodist Church of Australasia, Launceston, Tas, 1975.
Nyman, Lois. The West Tamar people : the story of the early settlement and its well-established families / by Lois Nyman Regal Publications Launceston, Tas 1996
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