No. 933 - Devonport - Parker Street Baptist Church Hall (1953-1988)

Devonport was established in 1890 with the merging of two towns on the opposite banks of the Mersey River; Formby on the west bank and Torquay on the east bank. The area was first settled in the 1840s.

The Park Street Baptist church Hall in West Devonport was built in 1953 to accomodate a Baptist Sunday school which had been previously held in a private home. The hall was built on donated land and constructed by voluntary labour. The official opening of the hall on Saturday 3 May is recorded in the Advocate:

“Adherents of the Baptist Church from many parts of Tasmania attended the opening and dedication of the Baptist Church Hall in Parker St., Devonport, on Saturday afternoon. The function was performed by the general secretary of the Baptist Union in Tasmania (Rev. E. E. Watson). The opening ceremony and dedication were presided over by the minister of the Devon port Church (Rev. Max D. Brewer)…..Mr. Watson brought the greetings and congratulations of the Baptist Union. He declared the hall open "for the Glory of God”….when the gathering moved into the church hall, a service of dedication followed….”.

The hall was used for about 30 years for Sunday school and the occasional religious service. In 1988 it was sold to the Nixon Street Primary School for use as school rooms and the land provided an extra playground for children in the infant section. The hall is still in use at the school at the time of writing this article.

Additional information about this church is welcomed as all articles are continually updated. I can be contacted through this page or my Facebook page "Churches of Tasmania" which is linked here: Churches of Tasmania.

A photograph of the hall at the time of its sale to the Nixon Street Primary Hall. Photo source: The Advocate. In the photograph from the left is Wilma Aherne (P&F Association); Tony Rundle M.H.A., Warren Morris (acting principal) and students Bronwyn Gibson; Leigh Beveridge and Kylie Scattergood.



Sources:

Advocate, Thursday 30 April 1933, page 10
Advocate, Monday 4 May 1953, page 4
Examiner, Monday 4 May 1953, page 4
Advocate, Tuesday 2 August 1988, page 7





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