Churches of Tasmania

This article is one of a series about buildings associated with Tasmania’s historical churches.These buildings include Sunday schools, parish halls, convents, schools and residences of the clergy. Ancillary buildings are often overlooked and rarely feature in published histories. My aim is to create a simple record of these buildings, including of those that no longer exist. The Saints Louis and Zelie Centre is located in the Moonah-Lutana parish north of Hobart. The centre, which was opened and blessed in December 2015, is housed in the former Convent of the Sisters of St Joseph. The Convent was built in 1935 near St Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church on Hopkins Street. It was blessed and opened on 5th May 1935 and named St Joseph’s Convent. The Centre is is associated with L’Arche (“The Ark”), an international federation of non-profit organisations working to create networks of community for people with intellectual disabilities. L’Arche Beni-Abbes began in Hobart in 1986 with a hou...

The former ‘Christians’ Chapel’ on Collins Street was the third place of worship established by the Church of Christ in Hobart. It replaced a chapel built at Lower Harrington Street in 1881. [ See No. 1401 ] The first members of the Church of Christ arrived in Tasmania in 1865 and soon after established a ‘Meeting House’ at Northdown near Latrobe. In the 1870s churches were set up in Launceston and Hobart. Initially the group identified themselves as the ‘Christians’. After 1885 they were known as the 'Disciples of Christ' and from 1915 as the 'Churches of Christ'. A church was established at Hobart in 1872 by Oliver Carr who began preaching in the old Particular Baptist Chapel on Harrington Street. Services then moved to the Oddfellows Hall and the People’s Hall on Bathurst Street. In July 1872 the former “School of Arts” building on Collins Street was acquired and the group worshipped there for the next 9 years*. A prominent member of the congregation was John Bradle...

Lower Turners Marsh was the name given to an area on the Pipers River west of Lilydale and north of Launceston. In 1900 the name Karoola, an aboriginal name for the Pipers River, was adopted. In the 1860s Lower Turners Marsh was in the process of becoming settled and access to the area, although close to Launceston, was very difficult. In 1868 a small Catholic church was built to accomodate Irish settlers who had moved into the area. The church, which was dedicated to the ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’, served the Catholic community for 30 years before it was replaced by a new church, which at the time, was considered to be one of the finest rural churches in the Colony. The origins of the first church is not recorded in any detail. A single report in the Cornwall Chronicle describes the official opening on Wednesday 2 December 1868: “The Catholic Church lately erected in the district of Piper's River, about fifteen miles distant from Launceston, was solemnly opened on Wednesday last. Th...

Highcroft is a rural area on the Tasman Peninsula approximately 8 kilometres south of Nubeena. It was once an orchard and mixed farming district. The area was called Tunnel Bay before it was renamed Highcroft in 1923. The Tasman Peninsula was the site of several Church of Christ communities who established churches or ‘meeting houses’ at Nubeena, Koonya, Highcroft, Oakwood and Impression Bay. The first Church of Christ was established near Impression Bay in 1879 when William Spaulding moved into the area from Bream Creek. Worship initially took place in Spaulding’s home. In 1889 a small chapel was built on land donated by George Greatbatch. The church at Highcroft is the second church built on this site. It replaced an earlier church built in 1916 which was destroyed in a bushfire in March 1940. A new church was built following the fire and this opened for services before the end of 1940. As with most Church of Christ communities, the affairs of the church were rarely reported by newsp...

Black River is a location on the Bass Highway approximately 10 kilometres south east of Stanley. In the 1850s a settlement was established about a kilometre inland from the river’s mouth. Timber was processed at Black River and exported to the mainland. At its peak the settlement had a hotel, school, post office and two churches. All that remains are two headstones in a field which mark the location of the the old Anglican church. The history of Black River’s Anglican church is complex but may be summarised as follows: (1) The first church at Black River opened in 1856. This was about the same time as the opening of St Peter’s church on Fords Road at neighbouring Forest. [ see No. 789 ] (2) In 1870 a second Anglican church was built at Black River. It is not clear if this building was ever dedicated. A Methodist church opened at Black River in 1871. (3) In 1918 the church was moved to a more convenient location near to the coast. The church was dedicated and consecrated as All Saints’...

The ‘Christians' Chapel’ on Lower Harrington Street (1881) was the second place of worship established by the Church of Christ in Hobart. The building was only used for a few years before it was replaced by a third chapel which opened on Collins Street in 1886. The first members of the Church of Christ arrived in Tasmania in 1865 and established a ‘Meeting House’ was established at Northdown near Latrobe. In the 1870s churches were set up in Launceston and Hobart. Initially the group identified themselves as the ‘Christians’. After 1885 they were known as the 'Disciples of Christ' and from 1915 as the 'Churches of Christ'. The church at Hobart was established in 1872 by Oliver Carr who began preaching in the old Particular Baptist Chapel on Harrington Street. Services were then held at the Oddfellows Hall and the People’s Hall on Bathurst Street. In July 1872 the former “School of Arts” building on Collins Street was acquired and the group worshipped there for the ...

Edith Creek is a logging and farming district in the Circular Head region. The settlement lies 15 kilometres south of Smithton. A milk-processing factory is the main industry in the town. The only place of worship built at Edith Creek was a Christian Brethren Gospel Hall. Anglican and Methodist services were held in the Edith Creek Public Hall for many years. The Gospel Hall opened in 1955 and closed and was sold in 2004.  The hall, which is located on Trowutta Road is now a private residence. There is little information about the Brethren community which once had a number of Gospel Hall’s established in the Circular Head district. The former Edith Creek Gospel Hall - image: Google street-view

Beauty Point is a port town in the West Tamar region approximately 5 kilometres north of Beaconsfield. This was the first deep-water berth that was established on the Tamar River and it once serviced the goldfields at Beaconsfield. The Point Baptist Church is one of a growing number of newly established churches that operate from hired premises and which often choose not to build their own place of worship. Some of these church communities are short-lived while others are more enduring. The Point Baptist Church meets in premises at Sea Horse World on the Inspection Head Wharf. The church was established in 2006 as a ‘plant church’ by the Newstead Baptist church. It was formally constituted in 2009 as The Point Christian Fellowship. The church initially met in the Beauty Point Uniting Church until 2020 when it moved to Inspection Head Wharf. The church is a member of Tasmanian Baptists, a union of nearly 30 churches. In 2021, the church partnered with several other churches in northern ...

The City North Church at Glenorchy is one of a growing number of newly established churches that operate from hired premises and which often choose not to build their own place of worship. Some of these church communities are short-lived while others are more enduring. The City North Church meets at the Golden Years Club, Main Road, Glenorchy The City North Church was established in 2020 and first met in a room at the Glenorchy library. The church is part of a fellowship of evangelical churches known as FIEC, which describes itself as a network of independently governed churches. The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches presently consists of 55 churches across six states. It is based in Lyneham, Australian Capital Territory. The FIEC was established in 2002. Most of the churches were formed as church plants by clergy trained at Moore Theological College. The City North Church meets at the Golden Years Club at Glenorchy. Image: Google street-view Sources and links for further ...

Highcroft is a rural area on the Tasman Peninsula approximately 8 kilometres south of Nubeena. It was once an orchard and mixed farming district. The area was called Tunnel Bay before it was renamed in 1923. The Tasman Peninsula was the site of several Church of Christ communities who established churches or ‘meeting houses’ at Nubeena, Koonya, Highcroft, Oakwood and Impression Bay. The first Church of Christ was established near Impression Bay in 1879 when William Spaulding moved into the area from Bream Creek. Worship initially took place in Spaulding’s home. In 1889 a small chapel was built on land donated by George Greatbatch. The church at Tunnel Bay was the fourth church established on the Peninsula and was officially opened on Sunday 9 January 1916. The Mercury carried a brief report on the opening: “The new Church of Christ chapel was opened at Tunnel Bay on Sunday last. The opening was celebrated by special services, conducted by Messrs. Woolnough and Clifford. On Monday about...

Upper Pipers River was the name given to an area which roughly covered what is now Underwood and the southern half of the Lilydale district. In May 1874 a Catholic church dedicated to St Margaret opened at Upper Pipers River. The church was built on a site about a kilometre south of Lilydale. The church was abandoned shortly after it opened. The reason for this is not known. Reports of the church’s opening appear in only two newspapers; both written by the same author. The church is described in the second half of a lengthy report concerning Bishop Murphy’s attendance at a ceremony at Sacred Heart church at Upper Turners Marsh to “administer the sacrament of confirmation”. After the confirmation service the Bishop’s party continued on to “open a little church at the Upper Piper”. The opening of the new church is described by a writer using the pseudonym “Spectator”: “I will not detain you with a description of the seven miles of road to be gone over ere this locality could be reached....

In recent years newly established churches typically operate from hired premises and often choose not to proceed to build their own place of worship. Some of these church communities are short-lived while others are more enduring. The West Tamar Baptist Church was established in 2020 with the Sidmouth Memorial Hall becoming the meeting place for "West Tamar Baptist Fellowship". In May 2022 the Fellowship was developed as a 'church plant' and moved its meeting place to the Legana Memorial Hall, which was closer to a growing population centre. Unfortunately the church did not develop and the final service was held on Sunday 2 March 2023. The Legana Memorial Hall: Photo: West Tamar Baptist Church (Facebook Page) The Sidmouth Memorial Hall. Photo: West Tamar Baptist Church (Facebook Page) Sources and links to further information: https://www.facebook.com/p/West-Tamar-Baptist-Church-100064729298688

Huonville is a small town on the banks of the Huon River which is situated approximately 35 kilometres south of Hobart. The Redemer Church is one of a growing number of newly established churches that operate from hired premises and which often choose not to build their own place of worship. Some of these church communities are short-lived while others are more enduring. The church currently operates from the Baden Powell Scout and Guide Hall located on Heron street. The Redeemer Church belongs to the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia (CRCA) from the Calvinist tradition which has over fifty congregations across Australia. The CRCA was established in 1951 following the migration of Dutch communities to Australia after World War Two. The Redeemer Church at Huonville. Image: Google street-view Sources and Links for further information: https://www.redeemercc.org.au/ https://crca.org.au/about-the-crca/history

Longley is a rural settlement approximately 20 kilometres south of Hobart. The area was originally named Leslie, a name that has been preserved in Leslie Hill which lies on the eastern side of Longley. The focus of this article is on the second Catholic church built at Longley, replacing an earlier church which opened in 1884 and which was destroyed in the bushfires which swept through Southern Tasmania in 1897. The history of the earlier church will be the subject of a seperate article. The foundation stone for the new church was laid by Archbishop Delany on Sunday 27 November 1898. The Mercury provides details of the occasion which is reproduced as follows: “During the terrible bushfires of last summer many homesteads and buildings of various kinds fell before the devouring element. Among these was the pretty little church which stood on the elevated site near the Halfway-house, Huon-road. Not only the church itself, but the sacred vestments and vessels, and all the furnishings were ...