No. 1618 - Woodstock - Congregational Church (c.1921-1933)
This article is one in a series about public buildings in country areas that were used as places of worship. In these communities churches may have been planned but were never built due to lack of finance or changing circumstances. In many settlements, before a church was built, worship was typically held in homes, schoolrooms, barns, halls and other buildings. Conversely, in some communities, churches were sometimes the first public building erected and were used as schools and community halls. The focus of this series will primarily be on the public halls and schools that were used as churches. These buildings, and the religious communities which used them, are frequently overlooked in published histories of churches.
Woodstock is a rural settlement centred on the junction of ‘Pelverata Road’ and ‘Channel Highway. It is named from John Wallis Kellaway’s (1829-1911) property ‘Woodstock Park’.
In 1917 a Congregational church was built at Cradoc which lies about 6 kilometres south of Woodstock. A Congregational church at Woodstock met in the State school which closed in 1921. According to a 1919 report about the school, the building was not in a good condition:
“Councillor Short called attention to the shocking state of the Woodstock school at the Huon Council meeting yesterday….It was time something was done as the building leaks badly and there was no light. Cr. Griffiths said the building was nothing but a hovel and was not fit for anyone live in, let alone being used for children. Cr. Cuthbert advised procuring bathing suits for the children as every time there was rain they had a shower bath…”.
The earliest reference to the school being used for church services dates to May 1921:
“The members of the Congregational Church at Woodstock held a harvest festival on Sunday, in the State school which they use for public worship, and it was the first festival of the kind ever held at Woodstock. Some of the Church members had taken great pains in decorating the room with old man ferns and greenery, and these, combined with the many gifts of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, made an attractive display. The Rev. F. Menzies conducted the service, which was held in the afternoon. On Monday evening a social gathering took place in the schoolroom, and was attended by visitors from Woodstock, Pelverata, Cradoc and Franklin. The musical programme included selections by the Franklin Church Choir, a solo by Miss Cameron, and recitations by Mrs. R. Barnett, Miss Linda Barrett, and Mr. Ralph Batchelor. The chair was taken by Mr. Geo. Batchelor. Addresses were given by the chairman and Mr. N. B. Barnett. The gifts of produce were sold by Mr. Sidney Batchelor, and realised good prices. The total raised by the sale was upwards of £11 which, together with a similar amount collected by the late Mrs. Batchelor, will go towards the cost of an organ for the church”.
In January 1923 a wedding took place at the church which was performed by the Congregational minister based at Franklin:
“On Wednesday afternoon quite a large gathering assembled in the Woodstock State school to witness the marriage of Mr. Ralph Muskett and Miss Vivienne Batchelor, whose parents are well known residents of the district. The ceremony was performed by Rev. P. Menzies of Franklin. As the bride was escorted by her father, Mr. Geo. Batchelor, to a dais arranged for the occasion, a wedding hymn was sung by those present, the bride's youngest brother, Master Alex Batchelor, presiding at the organ”.
There are a handful of references to the church’s activities throughout the 1920s which are described in the Huon Times. In 1925 the annual Harvest Festival was described as follows:
“On Sunday last the annual harvest thanksgiving services of the Woodstock Congregational Church were held in the State school building. To say there was a large congregation is only putting the case mildly, for there were almost as many people outside the building as inside owing to the accommodation being so limited. A large number of friends were present from Huonville and and Cradoc. This church has recently been transferred from the Franklin district to that of Huonville and this was the first big service since the Rev. V. Woolley took charge of the latter. Members of the Huonville choir attended, Miss Emma Walton as usual presiding at the organ and a very enjoyable choral service was rendered…”.
The last description of a service at the church dates to Harvest Festival in May 1928 which was published in the Huon Times. Services at the church continued until at least 1933 according to ‘Notices of Church Services’ published in the Huon Times.
Huon Times, Tuesday 14 January 1919, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 27 May 1921, page 2
Woodstock is a rural settlement centred on the junction of ‘Pelverata Road’ and ‘Channel Highway. It is named from John Wallis Kellaway’s (1829-1911) property ‘Woodstock Park’.
In 1917 a Congregational church was built at Cradoc which lies about 6 kilometres south of Woodstock. A Congregational church at Woodstock met in the State school which closed in 1921. According to a 1919 report about the school, the building was not in a good condition:
“Councillor Short called attention to the shocking state of the Woodstock school at the Huon Council meeting yesterday….It was time something was done as the building leaks badly and there was no light. Cr. Griffiths said the building was nothing but a hovel and was not fit for anyone live in, let alone being used for children. Cr. Cuthbert advised procuring bathing suits for the children as every time there was rain they had a shower bath…”.
The earliest reference to the school being used for church services dates to May 1921:
“The members of the Congregational Church at Woodstock held a harvest festival on Sunday, in the State school which they use for public worship, and it was the first festival of the kind ever held at Woodstock. Some of the Church members had taken great pains in decorating the room with old man ferns and greenery, and these, combined with the many gifts of flowers, fruit, and vegetables, made an attractive display. The Rev. F. Menzies conducted the service, which was held in the afternoon. On Monday evening a social gathering took place in the schoolroom, and was attended by visitors from Woodstock, Pelverata, Cradoc and Franklin. The musical programme included selections by the Franklin Church Choir, a solo by Miss Cameron, and recitations by Mrs. R. Barnett, Miss Linda Barrett, and Mr. Ralph Batchelor. The chair was taken by Mr. Geo. Batchelor. Addresses were given by the chairman and Mr. N. B. Barnett. The gifts of produce were sold by Mr. Sidney Batchelor, and realised good prices. The total raised by the sale was upwards of £11 which, together with a similar amount collected by the late Mrs. Batchelor, will go towards the cost of an organ for the church”.
In January 1923 a wedding took place at the church which was performed by the Congregational minister based at Franklin:
“On Wednesday afternoon quite a large gathering assembled in the Woodstock State school to witness the marriage of Mr. Ralph Muskett and Miss Vivienne Batchelor, whose parents are well known residents of the district. The ceremony was performed by Rev. P. Menzies of Franklin. As the bride was escorted by her father, Mr. Geo. Batchelor, to a dais arranged for the occasion, a wedding hymn was sung by those present, the bride's youngest brother, Master Alex Batchelor, presiding at the organ”.
There are a handful of references to the church’s activities throughout the 1920s which are described in the Huon Times. In 1925 the annual Harvest Festival was described as follows:
“On Sunday last the annual harvest thanksgiving services of the Woodstock Congregational Church were held in the State school building. To say there was a large congregation is only putting the case mildly, for there were almost as many people outside the building as inside owing to the accommodation being so limited. A large number of friends were present from Huonville and and Cradoc. This church has recently been transferred from the Franklin district to that of Huonville and this was the first big service since the Rev. V. Woolley took charge of the latter. Members of the Huonville choir attended, Miss Emma Walton as usual presiding at the organ and a very enjoyable choral service was rendered…”.
The last description of a service at the church dates to Harvest Festival in May 1928 which was published in the Huon Times. Services at the church continued until at least 1933 according to ‘Notices of Church Services’ published in the Huon Times.
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| Huon Times - May 1925 |
Sources:
Huon Times, Friday 27 May 1921, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 10 June 1921, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 5 January 1923, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 5 January 1923, page 2
Huon Times, Friday 20 February 1925, page 2
Huon Times, Tuesday 19 May 1925, page 3
Huon Times, Friday 18 May 1928, page 3
Huon Times, Tuesday 29 April 1930, page 2
Huon Times, Thursday 20 July 1933, page 2
Huon Times, Tuesday 19 May 1925, page 3
Huon Times, Friday 18 May 1928, page 3
Huon Times, Tuesday 29 April 1930, page 2
Huon Times, Thursday 20 July 1933, page 2
Sharples, Theo E. and Congregational Union of Tasmania. Congregationalism in Tasmania, 1830-1977 : a brief history / compiled by Theo E. Sharples Congregational Union of Tasmania Hobart, 1977
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