Name/TitleThree papers regarding the origins of Presbyterianism in Victoria
About this object(Box 062-1) MS 000200 : includes
Paper One
"The history of the John Knox Glebe in Swanston Street" by J. Alexander Allan, read before the R.H.S.V., 1943.
This paper includes a a map of buildings in the relevant city block 1847-1862.
Allan praises the work of Rev. James Forbes, whom he calls Victoria's 'first great educationist and the first minister of Scot's Church on Collins Street'.
In 1843 the Presbyterian church in Scotland was disrupted by battles between the civil authorities and congregations leading to a break-away new church. In Australia, Forbes left the Scot's Church in 1846 and formed the "free Protesting Church of Australia Felix" who first met in the Mechanics Institute in Collins Street. Forbes was the first moderator of the new church and the driving force behind the building of the John Knox Free Presbyterian church and school on Swanston Street and Little Lonsdale street. The new church opened for worship in May 1848.
The John Knox church building was architect-designed by Charles Laing whose map, dated December 1847 shows the building faced south, not east, as did the replacement church of 1863.
Forbes foundational newspaper "The Port Phillip Christian Herald". Anecdotal evidence of Forbes personal nature, his deep interest in the schooling and care for the children, including girls' education. Mention of Chalmers school on Spring street. Forbes illness and death at the age of just 38, huge funeral and excessive mourning as well as his legacy.
New Knox Church built in 1863, facing Swanston Street, not Little Lonsdale Street (it remains a church today), the subdivision of the land and how the buildings that remained were used after this time. The reducing congregation in the 1860s and the dissolution of parish in 1879. Sale of Knox Church in 1882 to the Disciples of Christ/Christian Chapel. Presbyterian church schism ending in 1860s/70s.
Paper Two
Dr W. A. Sanderson, M.A. L.L.D., ‘The Beginning of Presbyterianism in Melbourne’, Victorian Historical Magazine, Vol 15, no 4, Dec 1935, pp 124-31.
(handwritten copy and typed copy)
NOTE: This paper published in V.H.M. Vol. XV, 1935.
Focus of this paper on the first religious services held in Port Phillip, the first ministers conducting them, and the first religious buildings to be erected. First Presbyterians to arrive were Dr Alexander Thomson and Mr David Fischer in early 1836, two Presbyterian layman from Tasmania. First services held in homes of new settlers and in the open air. Dr Thomson read the Church of England service every Sunday morning at his house where St Paul's Cathedral now stands.
The first clergyman to arrive was Rev. Joseph Orton, a Wesleyan, in April 1836. About this time a subscription fund for a church and school building for the use of all denominations (protestant) was instituted. The humble William Street church opened (on the site of the later St James Cathedral) and though it was just a shed it could seat 80 persons.
The first Presbyterian Minister to arrive was Rev. James Clow who began preaching from the William Street church but had to contend with the Church of England majority who intended to take over building. Clow wrote to Reverend Lang in Sydney in December 1837: "with considerable difficulty I obtained the use of it (the church) from 2-4pm every Sunday afternoon as a temporary arrangement'. Although the church was full for his sermons, Clow noted that : "many of those present were Episcopalians and Dissenters".
At the end of January 1838 Rev. James Forbes arrived and he and Clow worked together to acquire funding to build the first Presbyterian Church, aided by Mr Skene Craig. Temporary worship was conducted on David Fischer's land on the south side of Collins St West, while another temporary church building commenced. Mr Forbes became the first settled minister in Melbourne and the first Minister of the Scot's church holding first communion here on July 29th 1838, with about 30 communicants present. Government grant and plans for Eastern Hill Scot's Church gathered pace in 1839-40.
Paper Three
Dr W.A. Sanderson, "The pioneers of the Presbyterian Church".
(handwritten copy and typed copy)
This paper covers some of the same ground as papers one and two above. Adds a large number of early Presbyterian emigrant ministers including those who served rural congregations and did missionary and bush itinerary work: Rev. Andrew Love (Geelong), Rev. Thomas Mowbray (Campbellfield), Rev. Alexander Laurie (Portland), Rev.. Irving Hetherington (Scot's Church Collins St.), Rev. William Hamilton (Mortlake), Rev. John Tait (Geelong), Rev. Thomas Hastie (Buninyong), Rev. A.M. Ramsay (Scots Church, Collins St), Rev. Robert Hamilton, D.D. (Fitzroy).
The Free Church of Scotland sent out a number of young ministers under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Macintosh Mackay and Rev. Dr Adam Cairns to serve the populace in the goldfields: including Rev. James Baird and Rev. William Henderson, (Ballarat), Rev. Dr James Nish (Bendigo) and Rev. Walter Robb and Rev. W.S. Login (Gippsland).
In 1859 Rev. James Clow elected the first moderator of a United Presbyterian Church of Victoria. By 1870 the factionalism among the Presbyterian denominations that had divided the church since 1843 was over, at least in Victoria, as the majority saw the advantages of returning to a strong united body.
[Author Dr W.A. Sanderson c.1871-1937. He was a doctor of laws ad an amateur historian who presented several papers to the RHSV in the 1930s. He lived at that time at 302 Wattletree road East Malvern.]
Unreferenced 1852 letter at the back of the J. Alex. Allan paper is part letter (two typed pages) apparently written by George Augustus Robinson, former Chief Protector of Aborigines in the Port Phillip District (Victoria) from 1837 to his daughter, a Mrs. Allen, then living temporarily on Clark Island north of Van Dieman's Land. Letter dated April 3, 1852, written just prior to Robinson's final return to England. Mentions his other daughters Cecilia (the youngest) and Eliza (just married to C.B. Peel).
MakerAllan, J. Alex (James Alexander), 1879-1967
Maker RoleCreator
MakerSanderson, W. A. (William Alexander)
Maker RoleCreator
Subject and Association KeywordsPresbyterian Church
Subject and Association KeywordsSchools
Subject and Association KeywordsJohn Knox Church
Subject and Association KeywordsManse
Subject and Association KeywordsRobinson, George Augustus, 1791-1866.
Subject and Association KeywordsForbes, James, 1813-1851
Subject and Association KeywordsChalmers Presbyterian Church (East Melbourne, Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsClow, James, 1790-1861.
Subject and Association KeywordsSt. James' Old Cathedral (West Melbourne, Vic.)
Subject and Association KeywordsWaterfield, William, 1795-1868
Subject and Association KeywordsFawkner, John Pascoe, 1792-1869.
Subject and Association KeywordsThomson, Alexander, 1798-1866.
Subject and Association KeywordsCraig, Skene, c. 1802-1879
Subject and Association KeywordsOrton, Joseph Rennard, 1795–1842.
Subject and Association KeywordsHastie, Thomas, 1813-1898.
Subject and Association KeywordsScots' Church (Melbourne, Vic.)
Named CollectionManuscripts Collection
Credit LineThis is a typed copy of an 1852 incomplete letter to Mrs Allen of Clark Island from her father, G.A. Robinson, Protector of Aboriginals.
This letter is attached to 'The History of the John Knox Glebe in Swanston Street by J. Alex. Allan'.
Donor Ledger says it came from Museum Dep. of Libraries Dep S. Australia. 1944-45 and 1940-41, Lib Dep 1944545.
Object TypeDocument
Object numberMS 000200 (Box 062-1)
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved