No. 1632 - Devonport - Oldaker Street Seventh Day Adventist Church (1903-1969)
Devonport was created in 1890 with the merging of two towns on the opposite banks of the Mersey River: Formby on the west bank and Torquay on the east bank. The area was first settled in the 1840s
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s. In 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and later at Hobart and Launceston.
The Adventists were first active in Devonport around the turn of the 20th century. By 1903 substantial progress had been made towards establishing a permanent congregation as a result of “evangelistic work” undertaken by George Teasdale in West Devonport. In January 1903 the Adventist Union Conference Record recounts:
“Brother Teasdale had previously moved his family to Devonport, and had the direction of work…. [at] the last night of the camp meeting over £60 was raised towards the erection of a chapel, and a call made for an allotment on which to build. After the meeting was dismissed, a wealthy widow lady offered a centrally located allotment, valued at £150, and also an organ, the original cost of which was £50…”.
The “wealthy widow” was Mrs Helen Aikenhead, the wife of William Aikenhead (MLA). The land donated was located on Oldaker street, opposite the former Devonport police station.
In June 1903 the “Record” reported on the progress made towards the chapel’s construction:
“The deed is now being made out; the stones are on the spot, and part of the timber is framed. some of the conference labourers will spend a few days working on the building, with Brother H.H. Appeldorff as overseer. …The building will be a neat, plain structure, 28x18 feet. We have donations from Hobart, Launceston, Mathinna, and other places. We want to see the cause of God built up in Devonport….”.
The building was completed by August 1903. The official opening and dedication of the chapel, which took place on Sunday 16 August 1904, is recorded in the North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times:
“As briefly reported yesterday, the opening services of the Seventh Day Adventist Chapel, in Oldaker street, were held on Sunday evening last. Pastor G. Teasdale, assisted by an able choir, conducted the services. The address was based upon the 'Three Angels' Messages 'found in Revelation, xiv. Mr. Teasdale drew a comparison between the work of John the Baptist, in heralding the first advent of Christ, and the establishment of the kingdom of grace, and the work of the Seventh Day Adventists in proclaiming the second advent of Christ, and the establishment of a kingdom of glory….. This was the reason for their existence as a separate religious body, and the reason why they expended their means and energies in erecting another house of worship in Devonport….The choir's singing was good. An appropriate solo entitled 'The three messages, rendered by Mrs Teasdale, was exceeding impressive. Although the weather was threatening and the night dark, the seating accommodation of the building was all occupied. The chapel is very plain, yet neat and substantial: it will hold about 100 persons…”.
In 1953 the church was renovated with the addition of a porch creating room for an extra Sabbath school class. The interior was repainted pastel green and recarpeted. New pews were installed in memorial to Mr and Mrs Ibott, who had been long standing members of the church. The building was rededicated on Saturday 29 August 1953. The Advocate reported:
“The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Devonport was rededicated on Saturday afternoon. The church, which is almost 50 years old has been renovated during the past six months, at a cost of about £800. The work was carried out mainly by church members, with Mr. Harnett the builder in charge. The church was packed when 122 people, from as far as Smithton and Launceston attended the rededication ceremony. Pastor H. W. Hollingsworth, president of the Tasmanian Conference of SeventhDay Adventists, stressed the importance of the church as a place "where God can meet with His people, and as a house of prayer for all.”
In 1969 a new church was built on Steele Street which was dedicated on Saturday 21 June of that year. The old church was subsequently demolished or removed.
Union Conference Record, 1 June 1903, page 6
Union Conference Record, 1 August 1903, page 4
Union Conference Record, 15 August 1903, page 5
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Tuesday 18 August 1903, page 2
Union Conference Record, 11 September 1903, pages 10-11
The Advocate, Tuesday 1 September 1953, page 7
Australasian Record, 19 October 1953, pages 6-7
Australasian Record, 18 August 1969, page 6
The Advocate, Wednesday 4 July 1979
Australasian Record, 15 October 1979, page 8
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church was established in Tasmania in 1888. The denomination originated in the USA in the 1860s. In 1885 a group of Adventists travelled to Australia and began preaching in Melbourne. After a church group was established in Melbourne in 1886 members moved on to Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Public tent meetings were held in Sandy Bay in 1888 which led to the establishment of a church at Collinsvale and later at Hobart and Launceston.
The Adventists were first active in Devonport around the turn of the 20th century. By 1903 substantial progress had been made towards establishing a permanent congregation as a result of “evangelistic work” undertaken by George Teasdale in West Devonport. In January 1903 the Adventist Union Conference Record recounts:
“Brother Teasdale had previously moved his family to Devonport, and had the direction of work…. [at] the last night of the camp meeting over £60 was raised towards the erection of a chapel, and a call made for an allotment on which to build. After the meeting was dismissed, a wealthy widow lady offered a centrally located allotment, valued at £150, and also an organ, the original cost of which was £50…”.
The “wealthy widow” was Mrs Helen Aikenhead, the wife of William Aikenhead (MLA). The land donated was located on Oldaker street, opposite the former Devonport police station.
In June 1903 the “Record” reported on the progress made towards the chapel’s construction:
“The deed is now being made out; the stones are on the spot, and part of the timber is framed. some of the conference labourers will spend a few days working on the building, with Brother H.H. Appeldorff as overseer. …The building will be a neat, plain structure, 28x18 feet. We have donations from Hobart, Launceston, Mathinna, and other places. We want to see the cause of God built up in Devonport….”.
The building was completed by August 1903. The official opening and dedication of the chapel, which took place on Sunday 16 August 1904, is recorded in the North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times:
“As briefly reported yesterday, the opening services of the Seventh Day Adventist Chapel, in Oldaker street, were held on Sunday evening last. Pastor G. Teasdale, assisted by an able choir, conducted the services. The address was based upon the 'Three Angels' Messages 'found in Revelation, xiv. Mr. Teasdale drew a comparison between the work of John the Baptist, in heralding the first advent of Christ, and the establishment of the kingdom of grace, and the work of the Seventh Day Adventists in proclaiming the second advent of Christ, and the establishment of a kingdom of glory….. This was the reason for their existence as a separate religious body, and the reason why they expended their means and energies in erecting another house of worship in Devonport….The choir's singing was good. An appropriate solo entitled 'The three messages, rendered by Mrs Teasdale, was exceeding impressive. Although the weather was threatening and the night dark, the seating accommodation of the building was all occupied. The chapel is very plain, yet neat and substantial: it will hold about 100 persons…”.
In 1953 the church was renovated with the addition of a porch creating room for an extra Sabbath school class. The interior was repainted pastel green and recarpeted. New pews were installed in memorial to Mr and Mrs Ibott, who had been long standing members of the church. The building was rededicated on Saturday 29 August 1953. The Advocate reported:
“The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Devonport was rededicated on Saturday afternoon. The church, which is almost 50 years old has been renovated during the past six months, at a cost of about £800. The work was carried out mainly by church members, with Mr. Harnett the builder in charge. The church was packed when 122 people, from as far as Smithton and Launceston attended the rededication ceremony. Pastor H. W. Hollingsworth, president of the Tasmanian Conference of SeventhDay Adventists, stressed the importance of the church as a place "where God can meet with His people, and as a house of prayer for all.”
In 1969 a new church was built on Steele Street which was dedicated on Saturday 21 June of that year. The old church was subsequently demolished or removed.
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The Seventh Day Adventist Church on Oldaker Street - Photograph: The Advocate, July 1979
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Sources:
Union Conference Record, 1 August 1903, page 4
Union Conference Record, 15 August 1903, page 5
North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times, Tuesday 18 August 1903, page 2
Union Conference Record, 11 September 1903, pages 10-11
The Advocate, Tuesday 1 September 1953, page 7
Australasian Record, 19 October 1953, pages 6-7
Australasian Record, 18 August 1969, page 6
The Advocate, Wednesday 4 July 1979
Australasian Record, 15 October 1979, page 8
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