No. 1464 - Lonnavale - Methodist Church
Lonnavale is is an isolated community about 20 kilometres west of Huonville. It situated at the junction of Lonnavale Road and Lorkins Road and lies on the northern side of the Russell River. It was originally a timber producing settlement but around the turn of the 20th century settlers turned to orcharding.
Reverend Max Stansall’s book, ‘Tasmanian Methodism’, a conspectus of Methodist churches existing in Tasmania in the period leading up to the creation of the Uniting Church in 1977, states that a church existed at Lonnavale. Stansell writes:
“[In] about 1943 services at Lonnavale were commenced under the leadership of Mr Jessop who was a Home Missionary. Then for some years they apparently lapsed. Later the Rev. Oldmeadow conducted services in the local school. A Sunday school was started by Mrs Richardson. The cause at Lonnavale was not strong and apparently the church closed about the year 1951, although there is some record to support the belief that “services as arranged” applies, as Lonnavale appeared on the Circuit Plan into 1960. The last planned service was held on 1 September 1957”.
In 1954 a report in the Mercury described the Lonnavale church as the smallest in the Huon Circuit. It is likely that the Methodist’s used the Lonnavale State school, built in about 1934, for most of this period.
Sources:
Reverend Max Stansall’s book, ‘Tasmanian Methodism’, a conspectus of Methodist churches existing in Tasmania in the period leading up to the creation of the Uniting Church in 1977, states that a church existed at Lonnavale. Stansell writes:
“[In] about 1943 services at Lonnavale were commenced under the leadership of Mr Jessop who was a Home Missionary. Then for some years they apparently lapsed. Later the Rev. Oldmeadow conducted services in the local school. A Sunday school was started by Mrs Richardson. The cause at Lonnavale was not strong and apparently the church closed about the year 1951, although there is some record to support the belief that “services as arranged” applies, as Lonnavale appeared on the Circuit Plan into 1960. The last planned service was held on 1 September 1957”.
In 1954 a report in the Mercury described the Lonnavale church as the smallest in the Huon Circuit. It is likely that the Methodist’s used the Lonnavale State school, built in about 1934, for most of this period.
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| The former School at Lonnavale was used by the Methodist community after it was closed in 1948. |
Sources:
Stansall, M. E. J. and Methodist Church of Australasia. Tasmanian Methodism, 1820-1975 / [by M.E.J. Stansall ... et al] Methodist Church of Australasia Launceston, Tas 1975
Huon and Derwent Times, Thursday 11 October 1934, page 4
Huon and Derwent Times, Thursday 11 July 1935, page 3
The Mercury Saturday 19 June 1948, page 8
The Mercury, Thursday 8 April 1954, page 21
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