No. 1416 - Launceston - Prospect Church of Christ (1927)
Prospect is suburb of Launceston located between Summerhill and Prospect Vale. It was originally a small village in the Westbury Municipality but has been absorbed into the City of Launceston.
Several churches have existed at Prospect including the Christian Mission (now the Summerhill Baptist Church); a Congregational church and a Church of Christ, which was established as a branch of the former Margaret Street Church of Christ. The first members of the Church of Christ arrived in Tasmania in 1865 and by the 1870s churches were established in Launceston and Hobart. The first followers were initially known as ‘Christians' then from 1885 as 'Disciples of Christ' and from 1915 as the 'Churches of Christ'.
Little information is available about the Church of Christ at Prospect and its exact location is not known. The chapel, as it was called, opened in February 1927 and was in use for about 15 years before closing in early 1939.
The Prospect church was founded in early 1926 with the establishment of a Bible School. By the time of the Bible Schools’ first anniversary a chapel had been built. This was officially opened on Sunday 6 February 1927. A report of the opening service, published in the Daily Telegraph and the Examiner, provide a few details about the church:
“The Bible school anniversary services of the Prospect Church of Christ were commenced on Sunday at 3 p.m. Advantage was taken of the occasion to open a new chapel, well furnished. Pastor N. G. Noble presided….There was a large attendance from near and far. Greetings were received from the Churches of Christ state executive, and from the Margaret-street, Invermay, and Sandhill churches. Mr. Peter Duff, Mr. Jas. P. Foot, jun., and Mr. H. V. Clements delivered special representative messages. A choir of forty children rendered excellent anniversary music under the baton of Mr. Ronald Pitt, and with orchestral aid from Mr. Herbert Brown, Miss Dolly Dyson, and Mr. Eric Crombie. Duets were sung by Misses Jean and Daisy Peters, and Miss Dulcie and Freda Daniel. Mrs. M. Crombie presided at the organ, and assisted the chairman in distributing about 45 prizes and gifts. Pastor Noble conducted a special anniversary Gospel service at 7 p.m. This was also worthy of the occasion. The children and congregation heartily sang well-chosen music…Much gratitude was expressed to the Margaret-street Church of Christ for the fine chapel, well built by the contractor, Mr. Charles Nicholls. The chapel was tastefully decorated by practical sympathy….”.
Public notices concerning religious services at the Prospect church appear intermittently in Launceston newspapers until December 1938. Presumably services ceased shortly after this date. A photograph of the chapel is not available and I have yet to establish where the building was located or if any part of it still exists.
Sources:
Several churches have existed at Prospect including the Christian Mission (now the Summerhill Baptist Church); a Congregational church and a Church of Christ, which was established as a branch of the former Margaret Street Church of Christ. The first members of the Church of Christ arrived in Tasmania in 1865 and by the 1870s churches were established in Launceston and Hobart. The first followers were initially known as ‘Christians' then from 1885 as 'Disciples of Christ' and from 1915 as the 'Churches of Christ'.
Little information is available about the Church of Christ at Prospect and its exact location is not known. The chapel, as it was called, opened in February 1927 and was in use for about 15 years before closing in early 1939.
The Prospect church was founded in early 1926 with the establishment of a Bible School. By the time of the Bible Schools’ first anniversary a chapel had been built. This was officially opened on Sunday 6 February 1927. A report of the opening service, published in the Daily Telegraph and the Examiner, provide a few details about the church:
“The Bible school anniversary services of the Prospect Church of Christ were commenced on Sunday at 3 p.m. Advantage was taken of the occasion to open a new chapel, well furnished. Pastor N. G. Noble presided….There was a large attendance from near and far. Greetings were received from the Churches of Christ state executive, and from the Margaret-street, Invermay, and Sandhill churches. Mr. Peter Duff, Mr. Jas. P. Foot, jun., and Mr. H. V. Clements delivered special representative messages. A choir of forty children rendered excellent anniversary music under the baton of Mr. Ronald Pitt, and with orchestral aid from Mr. Herbert Brown, Miss Dolly Dyson, and Mr. Eric Crombie. Duets were sung by Misses Jean and Daisy Peters, and Miss Dulcie and Freda Daniel. Mrs. M. Crombie presided at the organ, and assisted the chairman in distributing about 45 prizes and gifts. Pastor Noble conducted a special anniversary Gospel service at 7 p.m. This was also worthy of the occasion. The children and congregation heartily sang well-chosen music…Much gratitude was expressed to the Margaret-street Church of Christ for the fine chapel, well built by the contractor, Mr. Charles Nicholls. The chapel was tastefully decorated by practical sympathy….”.
Public notices concerning religious services at the Prospect church appear intermittently in Launceston newspapers until December 1938. Presumably services ceased shortly after this date. A photograph of the chapel is not available and I have yet to establish where the building was located or if any part of it still exists.
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| The Examiner - 5 February 1927 |
Sources:
Examiner, Wednesday 30 June 1926, page 8
Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 1 February 1927, page 2
Examiner, Saturday 5 February 1927, page 1
Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 9 February 1927, page 6
Examiner, Wednesday 9 February 1927, page 11
Daily Telegraph, Thursday 10 November 1927, page 8
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