Charles Lewis Greenwood (1891–1969) was an Australian Pentecostal Christian pastor in the Assemblies of God.[1] He is credited for the revival and church that was integral to the formation of the Assemblies of God in Australia.[2]
Greenwood was born in Melbourne and was one of 12 children; he became a Christian at the age of 19.[3]
Greenwood married Frances Reed in 1915, and the following year they began holding prayer meetings in their home in Sunshine, Melbourne. Greenwood established the Sunshine Gospel Hall in 1925, and during a two-week campaign with evangelist A. C. Valdez, revival broke out. Over 200 people attended these meetings. Later that year Greenwood moved the church to the Richmond Theatre, (343 Bridge Road) changing its name to Richmond Temple.
After the Sunshine Revival of February 1926, other Pentecostal assemblies sought affiliation and Richmond Temple became the mother church of a network of Pentecostal churches which became the Pentecostal Church of Australia. In 1937, Greenwood met with the leaders of the Assemblies of God Queensland to unite and form a single denomination. The Assemblies of God in Australia was established and Greenwood became the first Chairman.
(Note that Greenwood served two non-consecutive terms as Chairman.)