No. 1600 - North Franklin - Congregational Church (c.1911)
North Franklin is a rural area approximately 2 kilometres north of the town of Franklin in the Huon Valley. A Congregational church was built at Franklin in the 1840s and over the time branch churches were established at Cradoc; Woodstock, Pelverata and North Franklin.
Little information is available about the church at North Franklin. It was located on Maxfields Road near the Congregational cemetery. In 1952 it was sold to the Anglican Church and removed to Judbury where in 1955 it was consecrated and dedicated to St Luke.
It is not known when the church was built and there is no description of it opening. The first service advertised appears in the Huon Times dates to November 1911. Newspaper reports about events associated with the church appear from 1912.
The following are a selection of reports from Huon Times which make reference to the North Franklin church:
“Last Sunday afternoon harvest thanksgiving services were conducted in the North Franklin Congregational church when the little building was beautifully decorated with flowers, fruit, greenery and vegetables. Last evening the gifts were sold, for the benefit of the church funds by Mr. Henry Hay, assisted by Mr. K. Short and realised very satisfactory prices. The Rev. S. Roberts delivered an interesting and impressive address and two pleasing items were sung by the boys and girls of the Sunday school. Supper concluded a pleasant evening”. [June 1924]
“Harvest: thanksgiving services were held at the North Franklin Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon under very favourable conditions. The little church was crowded on the occasion; and a goodly display of fruit and produce was made. Rev. S. Roberts was the preacher and he delivered an excellent sermon on the lessons of the harvest. Last evening the occasion was further celebrated by a social and sale of gifts. A number of members of the Franklin church assisted in a musical programme and a very pleasant evening was concluded by a successful, sale of the gifts”. [May 1925]
“On Tuesday evening about sixty persons accepted the invitation to attend a social gathering at the North Franklin Congregational Church, which building has recently been enlarged and otherwise improved largely by means of working bees and other voluntary efforts. Further funds were required for the purchase of material and paint, and the social was held as a means to this end. Musical items were rendered by Mrs R. Cameron, jun., Mrs R. R. Basham, Miss Joan Barnett, Mr R. Skinner, and little Leitha Norris. Mrs A. Rickards and Miss Dora Barnett officiated as accompanists. Humorous readings by the pastor (Rev. R. R. Basham), competitions, parlour games, and supper, provided by this lady members of the North Franklin Church, filled in a very pleasant couple of hours. Messrs H. G. Hay and N. B. Barnett made an appeal for continued support for the upkeep of the church and its functions in the district, Mr Barnett commending the people and the pastor for the fine effort made recently, which resulted in a substantial addition being made to the size of the building. It is hoped that funds, will soon be available to fence in and otherwise further improve the property”. [January 1932]
“The anniversary of the North Franklin Congregational Sunday School was celebrated on Sunday, a special service being conducted by the pastor, Rev. R. R. Basham. The singing was conducted by Mrs E. Short the organist being. Mr K. Short. The celebrations were continued on Tuesday evening, when a concert was given by the Sunday School scholars, arranged by Mrs Basham, the items being well rendered, the poise and confidence of the children showing careful preparation”. [March 1932]
Regular services ended in the late 1930s although the church may have been used for funeral services through the 1940s.
Sources:
Huon Times, Saturday 16 December 1911, page 5
Huon Times, Wednesday 4 June 1924, page 2
Huon Times, Tuesday 19 May 1925, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 22 January 1932, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 4 March 1932, page 2
The Mercury, Saturday 21 June 1952, page 28
Little information is available about the church at North Franklin. It was located on Maxfields Road near the Congregational cemetery. In 1952 it was sold to the Anglican Church and removed to Judbury where in 1955 it was consecrated and dedicated to St Luke.
It is not known when the church was built and there is no description of it opening. The first service advertised appears in the Huon Times dates to November 1911. Newspaper reports about events associated with the church appear from 1912.
The following are a selection of reports from Huon Times which make reference to the North Franklin church:
“Last Sunday afternoon harvest thanksgiving services were conducted in the North Franklin Congregational church when the little building was beautifully decorated with flowers, fruit, greenery and vegetables. Last evening the gifts were sold, for the benefit of the church funds by Mr. Henry Hay, assisted by Mr. K. Short and realised very satisfactory prices. The Rev. S. Roberts delivered an interesting and impressive address and two pleasing items were sung by the boys and girls of the Sunday school. Supper concluded a pleasant evening”. [June 1924]
“Harvest: thanksgiving services were held at the North Franklin Congregational Church on Sunday afternoon under very favourable conditions. The little church was crowded on the occasion; and a goodly display of fruit and produce was made. Rev. S. Roberts was the preacher and he delivered an excellent sermon on the lessons of the harvest. Last evening the occasion was further celebrated by a social and sale of gifts. A number of members of the Franklin church assisted in a musical programme and a very pleasant evening was concluded by a successful, sale of the gifts”. [May 1925]
“On Tuesday evening about sixty persons accepted the invitation to attend a social gathering at the North Franklin Congregational Church, which building has recently been enlarged and otherwise improved largely by means of working bees and other voluntary efforts. Further funds were required for the purchase of material and paint, and the social was held as a means to this end. Musical items were rendered by Mrs R. Cameron, jun., Mrs R. R. Basham, Miss Joan Barnett, Mr R. Skinner, and little Leitha Norris. Mrs A. Rickards and Miss Dora Barnett officiated as accompanists. Humorous readings by the pastor (Rev. R. R. Basham), competitions, parlour games, and supper, provided by this lady members of the North Franklin Church, filled in a very pleasant couple of hours. Messrs H. G. Hay and N. B. Barnett made an appeal for continued support for the upkeep of the church and its functions in the district, Mr Barnett commending the people and the pastor for the fine effort made recently, which resulted in a substantial addition being made to the size of the building. It is hoped that funds, will soon be available to fence in and otherwise further improve the property”. [January 1932]
“The anniversary of the North Franklin Congregational Sunday School was celebrated on Sunday, a special service being conducted by the pastor, Rev. R. R. Basham. The singing was conducted by Mrs E. Short the organist being. Mr K. Short. The celebrations were continued on Tuesday evening, when a concert was given by the Sunday School scholars, arranged by Mrs Basham, the items being well rendered, the poise and confidence of the children showing careful preparation”. [March 1932]
Regular services ended in the late 1930s although the church may have been used for funeral services through the 1940s.
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| The church at its new site at Judbury. It was converted into a house in recent years. |
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| Notices of services held at the North Franklin church appear in the Huon Times from late 1911 |
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| The Mercury, Saturday 21 June 1952 |
Huon Times, Saturday 16 December 1911, page 5
Huon Times, Wednesday 4 June 1924, page 2
Huon Times, Tuesday 19 May 1925, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 22 January 1932, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 4 March 1932, page 2
The Mercury, Saturday 21 June 1952, page 28
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