A brief history of the church.
Mount Gambier Uniting Church
Originally envisioned and established by the Free Presbytery of South Australia Adelaide, in 1858.
An old school house and later the old Court House were used for the purposes of worship.
In 1860 funds were begun to be collected for the purposes of building a church.
2nd July 1860, Mr Alexander Mitchell agreed to give to Mr James Umpherston and Mr John MacFadyen once acre and two perches of land valued at 40 pounds sterling.
January 1861 the church was opened for worship. It was on the south side of the present church and held 150 people with a vestry attached.
In 1862 the manse was built on the site of the present manse.
2 more acres were also purchased to the north of the land donated. A fourth acre was later acquired where the Sunday School building was built (part of the Resthaven site 2010).
In 1863 the congregation voted to become part of a Presbytery with the Church of Victoria.
In 1864 the church was too small for the congregation and it was decided to enlarge the church with a T section now seating 250.
In 1868 the church was again too small and it was resolved to build a new church. A tender was accepted in 1870.
The new church was opened 10th Dec 1871 costing over 3,000 pounds.
The old church was dismantled in 1872.
In 1876 a bell was ordered from Germany total cost of 130 pound and hung in 1880.
In 1879 extra seating was required and a gallery was built at the cost of 416 pounds and was completed in 1882. Now seating 600 worshippers.
The pipe organ was installed into the church in 1884 costing 700 pounds and came from Melbourne.
In 1885 the church spire was unsafe and it was arranged that it be pulled down, add 10 feet to the height and affix the bell and make is sound and secure. Cost was 328 pound and 8 shillings.
The stables and outbuildings were erected at the rear of the manse at a cost of 171 pounds, 19s. 6d..
The church debt in 1887 was 1,376 pounds.
The debt was wiped out 1901/2.
In April 1908, the church was entirely debt free, and it remained with the congregation to provide the funds for the maintaining of services of the church and keep the property in efficient repair.
One further improvement would be the changes to the manse as it was too small and inconveniently planned.
Aw manse was constructed on the site of the old two storey one. The foundation stone was laid on Oct 26th 1910 and it was opened in 1911 on April 26. Cost was 1,640 pounds.
In 1908 a Golden Jubilee of the church was celebrated with organ recitals, musical festival and worship services.
In 1918 a Diamond Jubilee was celebrated.
In 1924 electric light was installed in the church.
In 1928 the steeple was repaired and had 15 feet taken from the apex and replaced at a cost of 300 pound.
In 1946 during a storm the roof of the church was rising ominously and had to be tied down with wires thrown over and tied to the buttresses.
The 90th anniversary was celebrated in 1948, and the entire lighting system replaced with a new one.
The Church celebrated in 1958, 100 years of Christian witness, of a long history of faithful and enthusiastic witness and endeavour.
The formation of the Uniting Church in Australia.
On the 22 June 1977, the three denominations, Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist came together to form the Uniting Church in Australia.
From this time the church known as St Andrews became part of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Here in Mount Gambier the Methodist Wesley Church became Uniting as did Gambier East and St Andrews Presbyterian.
Since then the Methodist Wesley Church has been sold and the two Uniting Churches remaining in Mount Gambier are Gambier East known as the Southern Pastorate including Port McDonnell. And Mount Gambier Uniting Church including Nangwarry.
Over a period of time Kalangadoo Church was closed in 2009 and Kongorong in 2009. Allendale East and others were closed as numbers decreased.
A note about the Church.
It is an outstanding piece of ecclesiastical architecture. The interior is beautifully finished in Queensland cedar. Of Gothic design on the outside, the same scheme has been carried out in the furnishing of the main body of the Church and also in the gallery. It boasts of a finely toned bell and a pipe organ.
In 2009, pews were removed to make way for chairs so that the space could be used for other ministries. The vestry was adapted to a kitchen area. This has been to enable the building to be multi-functional due to the requirements of the congregation after the sale of property to Resthaven to build a retirement and aged complex
The current congregation is seeking to build another ministry centre for future generations and ministry, to the glory of God.
