No. 1582 - Hobart - New Town - Christian Temple (1895-1899)
At the turn of the 20th century there were a number of small registered independent churches which operated from various halls and other public venues in Hobart. These include groups such as the ‘Church of the Disciples’, the ‘Unitarian Church’ and the Undenominational King Street Chapel. These churches were typically short-lived and led by charismatic leaders. The subject of this article is a small independent church which was established by Reverend John Anderson who was active in Hobart from about 1893 to 1904.
In June 1895 the Tasmanian News reported that a new church, ’The Christian Temple’, had opened in New Town. The ‘Temple’ was located in Arthur Street* opposite the “Anchorage Home” on the corner of Pedder Street. The church was very likely a converted house and not a purpose built structure. The Tasmanian News commented:
“This unpretentious looking place of worship, with its original belfry, is making its mark at New Town, and country folks are also noting its existence. The ordinance of baptism (adult immersion) will again be administered soon, also christening of infants, by the Rev. John Anderson”.
John Anderson had begun preaching at the Lansdowne Crescent Institute in 1893 where he conducted Sunday morning services. After the morning service Anderson led children in religious instruction and on Friday evenings conducted Bible readings in the Institutes back hall.
After the opening of the Temple the Tasmanian News reported:
“Mr Anderson's friends and supporters know of his perseverance in carrying on evangelistic work on the Lansdowne Crescent for more than two years; many also have heard him on the Queen’s Domain. He began work in New Town at the close of last year, where he is residing, and to-day his efforts have so far been crowned with success that he now holds services three times a week in the Christian Temple, off the New Town State School, where all receive a hearty welcome at the meetings”.
In July 1895 the marriage of Charles Perkins to Sarah Fanny Ratcliffe was recorded as the first of about a dozen marriage ceremonies conducted at the Temple:
“As the Temple minister, Mr Anderson, does not believe in class distinction, poor and wealthy couples are given the same beautiful and impressive marriage ceremony one could wish for…”.
Anderson claimed that the Temple was the first church in Hobart to adopt the practise of providing separate cups for each communicant at the quarterly communion service.
As a means of supplementing his income Anderson established a private school at the Temple. In January 1897 an advertisement in the Mercury announced the opening of a “select school adjoining the Christian Temple, in Arthur-street” with Reverend John Anderson as principal and “the Misses Anderson” as assistants. The school admitted boys from the age of 5 to 10 and girls up to 14 years.
An article in the Tasmania News in the following year described Anderson as “being of Scotch and French descent” and who had “been trained as an English and French teacher”. Indeed, Anderson described himself as "a teacher of long standing [and] formerly head master of the Normal School in Mauritius".
In addition to services at the Temple, Anderson regularly preached on the ‘Queens Domain’ and his “lectures” were regularly advertised in local newspapers. Reports described him as a “fearless” and “popular preacher” and that a “special feature” of Anderson’s “lectures” was the “French singing”.
In 1899 Anderson was preaching at the Derwent Hall which was located at the corner of Harrington and Montpellier Streets. By mid 1899 Anderson began preaching as a minister of the “Tasmanian Free Church”. In the following year this was renamed the “Free Church of England” and services were held in Hobart’s Temperance Hall on Melville Street. By this time Anderson was also conducting classes at a "Select School" at Burnett Street where religious services were also held.
No further mention of the Arthur Street Christian Temple can be found in the newspaper record after 1899 therefore it must be assumed that the church and school were closed by this time. By 1902 Anderson established another school at 12 St George's Terrace, Battery Point, where he also conducted Free Church of England services. The last reference to him relates a Free Church of England service held at premises in Federal Street in January 1904.
After 1899 the Temple is no longer listed in Hobart’s Street directory. The building probably reverted to use as a house and its “original belfry” taken down. Given that the Temple existed for less than four years, a photograph of the building is unlikely to exist. I have been unable to discover what became of Reverend Anderson after 1904 but the abrupt end of regular reports about his work suggest that he departed from Tasmania.
* Arthur Street in New Town was renamed Carlton Street in 1921.
In June 1895 the Tasmanian News reported that a new church, ’The Christian Temple’, had opened in New Town. The ‘Temple’ was located in Arthur Street* opposite the “Anchorage Home” on the corner of Pedder Street. The church was very likely a converted house and not a purpose built structure. The Tasmanian News commented:
“This unpretentious looking place of worship, with its original belfry, is making its mark at New Town, and country folks are also noting its existence. The ordinance of baptism (adult immersion) will again be administered soon, also christening of infants, by the Rev. John Anderson”.
John Anderson had begun preaching at the Lansdowne Crescent Institute in 1893 where he conducted Sunday morning services. After the morning service Anderson led children in religious instruction and on Friday evenings conducted Bible readings in the Institutes back hall.
After the opening of the Temple the Tasmanian News reported:
“Mr Anderson's friends and supporters know of his perseverance in carrying on evangelistic work on the Lansdowne Crescent for more than two years; many also have heard him on the Queen’s Domain. He began work in New Town at the close of last year, where he is residing, and to-day his efforts have so far been crowned with success that he now holds services three times a week in the Christian Temple, off the New Town State School, where all receive a hearty welcome at the meetings”.
In July 1895 the marriage of Charles Perkins to Sarah Fanny Ratcliffe was recorded as the first of about a dozen marriage ceremonies conducted at the Temple:
“As the Temple minister, Mr Anderson, does not believe in class distinction, poor and wealthy couples are given the same beautiful and impressive marriage ceremony one could wish for…”.
Anderson claimed that the Temple was the first church in Hobart to adopt the practise of providing separate cups for each communicant at the quarterly communion service.
As a means of supplementing his income Anderson established a private school at the Temple. In January 1897 an advertisement in the Mercury announced the opening of a “select school adjoining the Christian Temple, in Arthur-street” with Reverend John Anderson as principal and “the Misses Anderson” as assistants. The school admitted boys from the age of 5 to 10 and girls up to 14 years.
An article in the Tasmania News in the following year described Anderson as “being of Scotch and French descent” and who had “been trained as an English and French teacher”. Indeed, Anderson described himself as "a teacher of long standing [and] formerly head master of the Normal School in Mauritius".
In addition to services at the Temple, Anderson regularly preached on the ‘Queens Domain’ and his “lectures” were regularly advertised in local newspapers. Reports described him as a “fearless” and “popular preacher” and that a “special feature” of Anderson’s “lectures” was the “French singing”.
In 1899 Anderson was preaching at the Derwent Hall which was located at the corner of Harrington and Montpellier Streets. By mid 1899 Anderson began preaching as a minister of the “Tasmanian Free Church”. In the following year this was renamed the “Free Church of England” and services were held in Hobart’s Temperance Hall on Melville Street. By this time Anderson was also conducting classes at a "Select School" at Burnett Street where religious services were also held.
No further mention of the Arthur Street Christian Temple can be found in the newspaper record after 1899 therefore it must be assumed that the church and school were closed by this time. By 1902 Anderson established another school at 12 St George's Terrace, Battery Point, where he also conducted Free Church of England services. The last reference to him relates a Free Church of England service held at premises in Federal Street in January 1904.
After 1899 the Temple is no longer listed in Hobart’s Street directory. The building probably reverted to use as a house and its “original belfry” taken down. Given that the Temple existed for less than four years, a photograph of the building is unlikely to exist. I have been unable to discover what became of Reverend Anderson after 1904 but the abrupt end of regular reports about his work suggest that he departed from Tasmania.
* Arthur Street in New Town was renamed Carlton Street in 1921.
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| The former Lansdowne Crescent Mechanics Institute Hall - West Hobart (c.1890) where Anderson held services from 1893 until the Christian Temple was established on Arthur Street, New Town, in June 1895. Photo: Google Street -view |
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| The Tasmanian Post Office Directory for 1897 reveals the location of the Christian Temple on Arthur Street. |
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| The Mercury, January 1897 |
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| The Mercury, July 1899 |
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| The Mercury, February 1902 |
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| 12 St George's Terrace, Battery Point where Anderson held Free Church of England services from 1902. Photo: Peterswald Real Estate |
Sources:
Tasmanian News, Saturday 4 November 1893, page 2
Tasmanian News, Saturday 10 February 1894, page 2
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 25 June 1895, page 2
The Mercury, Tuesday 25 June 1895, page 3
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 16 July 1895, page 2
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 15 October 1895, page 2
The Mercury, Thursday 17 October 1895, page 3
The Mercury, Monday 11 November 1895, page 2
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 12 November 1895, page 2
Tasmanian News, Saturday 7 December 1895, page 2
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 23 June 1896, page 2
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 7 July 1896, page 2
The Mercury, Monday 11 January 1897, page 1
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 4 January 1898, page 2
Tasmanian News, Saturday 29 January 1898, page 3
Tasmanian News, Saturday 5 February 1898, page 2
Tasmanian News, Tuesday 8 February 1898, page 2
Mercury, Monday 26 December 1898, page 3
Tasmanian News, Saturday 21 January 1899, page 2
The Mercury, Saturday 22 April 1899, page 4
Tasmanian News, Saturday 1 July 1899, page 4
The Mercury, Tuesday 4 July 1899, page 3
The Mercury, Saturday 8 July 1899, page 4
The Mercury, Saturday 15 July 1899, page 4
The Mercury, Saturday 31 March 1900, page 5
The Mercury, Saturday 26 May 1900, page 6
Tasmanian News, Thursday 14 June 1900, page 3
The Mercury, Friday 10 July 1903, page 2
The Mercury, Saturday 23 January 1904, page 9
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