No. 1531 - Launceston - Quadrant Gospel Hall (1871-1876)
Launceston’s iconic Quadrant has been the home of at least four religious organisations. These include the Catholic Apostolic Church (1894), a Chinese Mission (1884), the YMCA (1883) and a Gospel Hall (1871).
The establishment of the Quadrant dates back to 1856: The Courier described the newly opened street as follows:
“The Quadrant - The new street running from opposite Mr. Hopkirk’s store, in Brisbane-street, to nearly opposite the office of Messrs. Douglas, Dawes, and Miller, in St John’s-street, has been opened out, and forms the Quadrant. When built upon, if taste is displayed in the architecture of the houses, it will no doubt form the most ornamental portion of the business part of the town. The 24 building allotments on it are to be sold by Mr. Weedon…”.
In 1871 a Gospel Hall and a “free evening school for young men and boys” was established in the Quadrant by Robert Gibton (1837-1906), a native of Ireland, who had trained school teacher. Gibton was “a deep reader of theological works, and took a great interest in all religious affairs”. Gibton went on to occupy various positions in the ‘Police Department’ and later worked as an ‘information and bench clerk’ in the Launceston Police Court.
The origins of the Quadrant Gospel Hall date back to 1870 when a visiting evangelist, Walter Douglas, was taken under Gibton's wing while preaching in Launceston. In April 1870 the Cornwall Chronicle reported:
“Mr Walter Douglas - termed the evangelist… preached and held a special revival service in the Town Hall last evening. Every seat in the hall was filled …and additional seats were procured….Mr Douglas preached with great power. His style is simple, but full of zealous force, earnestness, and burning eloquence… In the course of the meeting Douglas claimed that he had arrived here friendless and unknown, without any intention to stay or to preach in Launceston, when he was met by a Christian friend at the coach office, who took him by the hand and to his home….”.
The report in the Chronicle continued:
“After the ordinary service he called upon his Christian brethren to pray, and Mr Oliver, Mr Robert Gibton (with whom he is staying), and Mr J.W. Norwood, prayed very fervently. Mr Norwood said there was no obstacle in the way of procuring the use of the Town Hall for the next evening, and Mr Douglas consented to hold service there this (Monday) evening, commencing at seven o’clock”.
It is very likely that Walter Douglas’ friendship with Gibton was the catalyst for the establishment of a school and a place of worship in the Quadrant. There is no record of the opening of the Gospel Hall but an early reference can be found in an advertisement published by the Cornwall Advertiser in November 1871 that announced the opening of a day school “at the Gospel Hall, Quadrant”. The Gospel Hall was located in a converted workshop or commercial premises on the site of the Ingles Building.
A report in the Cornwall Chronicle throws some light on Gibton’s enterprise:
“Amongst the things not generally known is the fact that a free evening school for boys and young men has been opened in the building known as the Gospel Hall, in the Quadrant. Mr R. Gibton, Mr Clarke, and a few assistants conduct the school on three evenings each week….Already Mr Gibton has names of 90 attendants on the roll, and the average attendance is from 50 to 60…. Mr Gibton and his friends seem to be quite a success….”.
The next reference to Gospel Hall, which describes a baptismal ceremony, dates to February 1872:
“Mr Ackerman's large bath was in unusual request on Tuesday night, from adults undergoing the ceremony of baptism by immersion in it. Mr W. Brown, an Evangelist from Victoria, officiated. The ceremony was of the most simple character. First, a verse of a hymn was sung, then a prayer followed, after which Mr Brown merely took off his coat, and with his other clothing on, descended the steps of the bath until the water reached his waist, when Mr R. Gibton entered the bath, attired for the occasion in a thin, dark suit, and Mr Brown, after a short address, baptised him by throwing him backwards and completely immersing him in the water. Mr C. J. Lowe was next baptised in a similar manner. Then two young women were baptised separately. Altogether it formed a most interesting sight, and seemed to make an impression on the beholders, most of whom were young women. After it had been concluded, an adjournment was made to the Gospel Hall, where an appropriate service was held, and at half-past nine o'clock the meeting terminated”.
In November 1872 the Tasmanian reported:
“Gospel, HaIl, Quadrant. — A meeting of friends to the above institution took place on Thursday week, and the results proved of a most pleasing and satisfactory character. It may be remembered that the Gospel Hall was opened about two years since, for the special purpose of gathering in the poor and needy to hear the simple gospel of the grace of God, and this being proclaimed free of any charge…..”
After 1872 there are numerous reports concerning revival meetings and worship at Quadrant Hall. One of the last services held at the Quadrant took place in March 1876. On this occasion the Examiner described a service conducted by a visiting evangelist, Reverend Charles Cherbury:
“Religious services are being held this week at the Gospel Hall, Quadrant, presided over by the Rev. Mr Cherbury, an evangelist, who sings and preaches the Gospel. The rev. gentleman accompanies the singing on a harmonium placed at his disposal by Mr G. Hubbard. On Tuesday evening there was a large attendance. There was a prayer meeting for females Wednesday afternoon, and in the evening a service in which the Rev. Messrs Smith and Cherbury and others took part, which was very much crowded”.
In May 1876 the Examiner reported that the Gospel Hall had moved to new premises:
“There was…an All-day Service held on Wednesday at the Wycliffe Chapel, which has been disused as a place of worship for some years. The building belongs to the Rev. C. Price, from whom we believe it has been rented by the parties who occupy the Gospel Hall, in the Quadrant, and for which Wycliffe Chapel is to be substituted. Services commenced at 10 a.m., 3, and 7 p.m.,….The proceedings comprised singing revival hymns, addresses, and prayer…. Messrs. Park, Cheek, Gibton and others took part….”.
After the move to the Wycliffe Chapel, the group aligned more closely with the Christian Brethren who had arrived in Launceston in 1885. By this time Gibton had developed a close relationship with Henry Reed’s Christian Mission (1876) on Wellington Street and was also instrumental in the establishment of the Ravenswood Mission in 1883.
Gibton died in 1906 at his home in Ravenswood and was buried at the old Henry Street cemetery at Ravenswood.
The building housing the gospel hall was demolished in 1910. No image of the Quadrant Gospel Hall exists.
Sources:
The establishment of the Quadrant dates back to 1856: The Courier described the newly opened street as follows:
“The Quadrant - The new street running from opposite Mr. Hopkirk’s store, in Brisbane-street, to nearly opposite the office of Messrs. Douglas, Dawes, and Miller, in St John’s-street, has been opened out, and forms the Quadrant. When built upon, if taste is displayed in the architecture of the houses, it will no doubt form the most ornamental portion of the business part of the town. The 24 building allotments on it are to be sold by Mr. Weedon…”.
In 1871 a Gospel Hall and a “free evening school for young men and boys” was established in the Quadrant by Robert Gibton (1837-1906), a native of Ireland, who had trained school teacher. Gibton was “a deep reader of theological works, and took a great interest in all religious affairs”. Gibton went on to occupy various positions in the ‘Police Department’ and later worked as an ‘information and bench clerk’ in the Launceston Police Court.
The origins of the Quadrant Gospel Hall date back to 1870 when a visiting evangelist, Walter Douglas, was taken under Gibton's wing while preaching in Launceston. In April 1870 the Cornwall Chronicle reported:
“Mr Walter Douglas - termed the evangelist… preached and held a special revival service in the Town Hall last evening. Every seat in the hall was filled …and additional seats were procured….Mr Douglas preached with great power. His style is simple, but full of zealous force, earnestness, and burning eloquence… In the course of the meeting Douglas claimed that he had arrived here friendless and unknown, without any intention to stay or to preach in Launceston, when he was met by a Christian friend at the coach office, who took him by the hand and to his home….”.
The report in the Chronicle continued:
“After the ordinary service he called upon his Christian brethren to pray, and Mr Oliver, Mr Robert Gibton (with whom he is staying), and Mr J.W. Norwood, prayed very fervently. Mr Norwood said there was no obstacle in the way of procuring the use of the Town Hall for the next evening, and Mr Douglas consented to hold service there this (Monday) evening, commencing at seven o’clock”.
It is very likely that Walter Douglas’ friendship with Gibton was the catalyst for the establishment of a school and a place of worship in the Quadrant. There is no record of the opening of the Gospel Hall but an early reference can be found in an advertisement published by the Cornwall Advertiser in November 1871 that announced the opening of a day school “at the Gospel Hall, Quadrant”. The Gospel Hall was located in a converted workshop or commercial premises on the site of the Ingles Building.
A report in the Cornwall Chronicle throws some light on Gibton’s enterprise:
“Amongst the things not generally known is the fact that a free evening school for boys and young men has been opened in the building known as the Gospel Hall, in the Quadrant. Mr R. Gibton, Mr Clarke, and a few assistants conduct the school on three evenings each week….Already Mr Gibton has names of 90 attendants on the roll, and the average attendance is from 50 to 60…. Mr Gibton and his friends seem to be quite a success….”.
The next reference to Gospel Hall, which describes a baptismal ceremony, dates to February 1872:
“Mr Ackerman's large bath was in unusual request on Tuesday night, from adults undergoing the ceremony of baptism by immersion in it. Mr W. Brown, an Evangelist from Victoria, officiated. The ceremony was of the most simple character. First, a verse of a hymn was sung, then a prayer followed, after which Mr Brown merely took off his coat, and with his other clothing on, descended the steps of the bath until the water reached his waist, when Mr R. Gibton entered the bath, attired for the occasion in a thin, dark suit, and Mr Brown, after a short address, baptised him by throwing him backwards and completely immersing him in the water. Mr C. J. Lowe was next baptised in a similar manner. Then two young women were baptised separately. Altogether it formed a most interesting sight, and seemed to make an impression on the beholders, most of whom were young women. After it had been concluded, an adjournment was made to the Gospel Hall, where an appropriate service was held, and at half-past nine o'clock the meeting terminated”.
In November 1872 the Tasmanian reported:
“Gospel, HaIl, Quadrant. — A meeting of friends to the above institution took place on Thursday week, and the results proved of a most pleasing and satisfactory character. It may be remembered that the Gospel Hall was opened about two years since, for the special purpose of gathering in the poor and needy to hear the simple gospel of the grace of God, and this being proclaimed free of any charge…..”
After 1872 there are numerous reports concerning revival meetings and worship at Quadrant Hall. One of the last services held at the Quadrant took place in March 1876. On this occasion the Examiner described a service conducted by a visiting evangelist, Reverend Charles Cherbury:
“Religious services are being held this week at the Gospel Hall, Quadrant, presided over by the Rev. Mr Cherbury, an evangelist, who sings and preaches the Gospel. The rev. gentleman accompanies the singing on a harmonium placed at his disposal by Mr G. Hubbard. On Tuesday evening there was a large attendance. There was a prayer meeting for females Wednesday afternoon, and in the evening a service in which the Rev. Messrs Smith and Cherbury and others took part, which was very much crowded”.
In May 1876 the Examiner reported that the Gospel Hall had moved to new premises:
“There was…an All-day Service held on Wednesday at the Wycliffe Chapel, which has been disused as a place of worship for some years. The building belongs to the Rev. C. Price, from whom we believe it has been rented by the parties who occupy the Gospel Hall, in the Quadrant, and for which Wycliffe Chapel is to be substituted. Services commenced at 10 a.m., 3, and 7 p.m.,….The proceedings comprised singing revival hymns, addresses, and prayer…. Messrs. Park, Cheek, Gibton and others took part….”.
After the move to the Wycliffe Chapel, the group aligned more closely with the Christian Brethren who had arrived in Launceston in 1885. By this time Gibton had developed a close relationship with Henry Reed’s Christian Mission (1876) on Wellington Street and was also instrumental in the establishment of the Ravenswood Mission in 1883.
Gibton died in 1906 at his home in Ravenswood and was buried at the old Henry Street cemetery at Ravenswood.
The building housing the gospel hall was demolished in 1910. No image of the Quadrant Gospel Hall exists.
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| An early photograph of the Quadrant (c.1900) The Gospel Hall was located in a building on the extreme left of the photograph. Source: C.A. Hart; QVMAG, Registration number: QVM 1997:P:5752 |
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| Cornwall Advertiser, June 1872 |
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| Reverend Reverend Charles Cherbury was one of several evangelists who periodically visited the Quadrant Gospel Hall. Source: Collingwood Historical Society |
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| Cornwall Advertiser October 1872. Walter Douglas returned to Launceston after his first visit in 1870. |
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| The Wycliffe Chapel on Vincent Street (my photo) |
Sources:
Courier, Thursday 16 October 1856, page 3
Cornwall Chronicle, Monday 4 April 1870, page 2
Cornwall Advertiser, Friday 17 November 1871, page 4
Launceston Examiner, Thursday 1 February 1872, page 2
Weekly Examiner, Saturday 3 February 1872, page 2
Cornwall Advertiser, Friday 14 June 1872, page 3
Cornwall Chronicle, Monday 5 August 1872, page 2
Cornwall advertiser, Friday 11 October 1872, page 2
Tasmanian, Saturday 23 November 1872, page 6
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 4 April 1874, page 5
Weekly Examiner, Saturday 11 March 1876, page 4
Cornwall Chronicle, Friday 17 March 1876, page 2
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 1 April 1876, page 5
Weekly Examiner, Saturday 27 May 1876, page 4
Launceston Examiner, Saturday 10 June 1876, page 3
Daily Telegraph, Wednesday 17 October 1906, page 4
Examiner, Tuesday 12 March 1946, page 55
Cyclopedia of Tasmania, Vol. 2, Maitland & Krone, Hobart, 1900, p. 39.
Dr Eric Ratcliff, From Chapel to Church, Nonconformist Building in Launceston, Launceston Historical Society Papers & Proceedings 2009
Elisabeth Wilson, “Ineffable impudence”? Christian Brethren Missionaries in Northern Tasmania, 1860s and 1870s, Launceston Historical Society Papers & Proceedings 2009
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