Union Church (Australia) Explained

In Australia, a Union Church is a church building owned and maintained by a local trust and available to multiple denominations.

Such churches were once common in rural areas.[1] Some were available to all denominations and even to other religions, others specified particular beliefs, such as the Nicene Creed. Many still exist and are in regular use.[2]

Existing Union Churches

New South Wales

Araluen Union Church

There is a Union Church at Araluen. It was built, in 1911, on land donated by William Mundy, on the condition that the building could be used by any denomination. It is used currently for Anglican and Uniting services on alternating weeks.[3]

Caloola Union Church

In Caloola, New South Wales, this is still maintained by a Trust, and has a historic cemetery.[4] It opened and was dedicated in 1865.

As of 2021, four interdenominational Sunday services are conducted each year, with clergy from several denominations attending each.

Meroo Union Church

[5]

Mangrove Mountain Union Church

[6]

Moonan Flat Union Church

The Union Church in the village of Moonan Flat, in the Upper Hunter Valley, New South Wales, is used for Anglican and Uniting Church services.[7]

Neurea Union Church

The small Union Church at the locality of Neurea, south of Wellington, is currently in recess, but not officially closed.[8]

Queensland

In Queensland, union churches are often titled using words such as "non-denominational", "undenominational", "united" and "community".

Historic Union Churches

New South Wales

Awaba Union Church

There is a small disused Union Church building at Awaba, New South Wales.[9]

Beckom Union Church

There is a disused Union Church building in the village of Beckom.[10]

Brocklesby Union Church

The building that was formerly the Union Church, at Brocklesby is now privately owned.[11]

Burraga Union Church

There was a Union Church at Burraga.[12] [13]

Cooks Myalls Union Church

There is a Union Church at the locality Cooks Myalls, north-west of Parkes, It is probably disused.[14]

Craven Union Church

The building that was formerly the Union Church, at the locality of Craven, south of Gloucester, is now privately owned.[15]

Girilambone Union Church

A Union Church was opened at Girilambone, New South Wales, in January 1913.[16] [17] It was in use until at least the mid 1930s.[18]

Glen Alice Union Church

There is a Union Church building at the small settlement of Glen Alice. Its status is uncertain, but it was in use in 2014.[19] [20]

Glen Innes Union Church

The building that was formerly the Union Church at Glen Innes is now privately owned.[21]

Gulgong Union Church

The first church in Gulgong, New South Wales was a Union Church, built around 1870. It was a pole and bark building that stood in Medley Street, probably opposite where the Memorial Hall stands today. After the various denominations built their own churches, the building was used, for a time, as the town's Catholic school.[22]

Larbert Union Church

There was a Union Church building at Larbert, New South Wales, from around 1878 to some time in the 1970s. All that remains are its steps, foundations and the adjoining cemetery.[23] [24] [25] [26]

Marrangaroo Union Church

The heritage-listed stone building at Marrangaroo, was once a Union Church. It was opened in 1897, by Joseph Cook. Half the iron for the roof was donated by Lithgow ironmaster, William Sandford. Title was ceded to the Anglican Church, in 1972, and it continued to use the building until around 1980. In 1983 the building was used as a library block for the Gateway Christian School. It reopened as a church, 'Marrangaroo Prayer Chapel', from 1989 to 1997. It is now privately owned.[27]

Rydal Union Church

There is a Union Church in Rydal, opened in 1899.[28] [29] Its status is uncertain.

St John's Union Church, Running Stream

There is a now disused Union Church, with a small cemetery, at the locality of Running Stream, off the Castlereagh Highway to the south of Ilford, New South Wales. It opened in 1906, although it seems that the associated cemetery predates the church building.[30] [31] [32]

Turill Union Church

The building that was formerly the Union Church at the locality of Turill, south-west of Cassilis, is now privately owned.[33]

Walcha Union Church

There is a disused Union Church at Walcha. It opened in 1885.[34]

Yathella Union Church

There was a Union Church at Yathella, a locality between Junee and Wagga Wagga. According to its plaque of its foundation stone, now located in the Broadway Museum in Junee, the stone was laid on 15 October 1937.[35] The building was subsequently relocated to Kooringal, but has since been demolished.[36] There was also a public school at the locality from 1880 to 1936.[37]

South Australia

Renmark West Union Church

Made from the union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches. The Church began operating in June 1918 in the Renmark West School with Rev. E. W. Sanders (Methodist) and Rev. A. E. Francis (Congregational) and built their own Church on donated land, starting on 6 November 1919, and opened on 31 October 1920. The Church continues operating today under the Uniting Church of Australia and celebrated its Centenary in November 2019. Services are conducted by the Renmark/Loxton resident Minister every Sunday at 8:30 am.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History | Mangrove Mountain Union Church. mmuchurch.org.au. 2016-09-11. 11 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170311213611/http://www.mmuchurch.org.au/history/. live.
  2. Web site: Non-Denominational Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104064035/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/.
  3. Web site: Union Church Araluen. 2021-05-05. www.anglicanparishofbraidwood.com. 5 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505075353/http://www.anglicanparishofbraidwood.com/id4.html. live.
  4. Web site: Caloola Union Churchyard, Caloola, New South Wales, Australia | BillionGraves Cemetery and Images. 10 June 2018. 12 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140215/https://billiongraves.com/cemetery/Caloola-Union-Churchyard/153110. live.
  5. Web site: Meroo Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104071141/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/5771-meroo-union-church.
  6. Web site: Mangrove Mountain Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104071137/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/8004-mangrove-mountain-union-church.
  7. Web site: Moonan Flat Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104215306/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/8405-moonan-flat-union-church.
  8. Web site: Neurea Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104224443/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/4348-neurea-union-church.
  9. Web site: Awaba Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104215306/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/8097-awaba-union-church.
  10. Web site: Beckom Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104222159/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/8657-beckom-union-church.
  11. Web site: Brocklesby Union Church - Former Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104222201/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/4937-brocklesby-union-church-former.
  12. News: 1904-12-09 . BURRAGA METHODIST CHURCH. . 3 . Lithgow Mercury . 2022-11-30.
  13. News: 1908-04-17 . PRESENTATION AT BURRAGA. . 3 . Lithgow Mercury . 2022-11-30.
  14. Web site: Cooks Myalls Union Church Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104225816/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/5770-cooks-myalls-union-church.
  15. Web site: Craven Union Church - Former Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104222159/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/5781-craven-union-church-former.
  16. News: 25 January 1913. Girilambone.. XLIX. 5. Western Herald. 84. New South Wales, Australia. National Library of Australia. 5 November 2021. 28 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220728032455/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103972316. live.
  17. News: 30 January 1913. THE CHURCHES.. 4. The Daily Telegraph. 10,510. New South Wales, Australia. National Library of Australia. 5 November 2021. 28 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220728032555/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238626271. live.
  18. News: 1935-08-27. PURELY PERSONAL.. Macleay Argus. 2021-12-03. 28 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220728032454/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/234011201. live.
  19. Web site: Glen Alice - Union Church - 2016-05-23 . 2022-09-16 . Mapio.net . en.
  20. Web site: 2014-04-10 . Easter church service times . 2022-09-16 . Mudgee Guardian . en-AU.
  21. Web site: Union Church - Former Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104222159/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/3059-union-church-former.
  22. Book: Maxwell, Eileen. Written in Gold - The Story of Gulgong - Yesterday, To-day and To-morrow. Mudgee Guardian. 1959. Gulgong.
  23. News: 1948-12-14. PAST HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. 1. Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1915 - 1954). 2021-01-16. 28 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220728032502/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119380977. live.
  24. Book: Maddrell, Roslyn. Braidwood District, Post Office and People. Braidwood, N.S.W.. 160, 206.
  25. Web site: Arnprior NSW Environment, Energy and Science. 2021-01-21. www.environment.nsw.gov.au. 22 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722070055/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=5051467. live.
  26. Web site: Australian Cemeteries Index - Cemetery 1690 - Larbert. 2021-01-21. austcemindex.com. 5 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505080456/https://austcemindex.com/cemetery.php?id=1690. live.
  27. Web site: Marrangaroo Union Church - Former Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104223835/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/2653-marrangaroo-union-church-former.
  28. Web site: Design . UBC Web . Rydal Union Church Churches Australia . 2024-07-16 . www.churchesaustralia.org . en.
  29. Web site: Rydal Union Church First World War Roll of Honor NSW War Memorials Register . 2024-07-16 . www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au.
  30. Web site: Design. UBC Web. St John's Union Church Churches Australia. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104064031/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/8333-st-johnand#39;s-union-church. live.
  31. Web site: Running Stream. live. Australian Cemeteries Index. 4 January 2022. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104064845/https://austcemindex.com/cemetery?cemid=81.
  32. Web site: 2016-12-23. St Johns Union Church Running Stream. 2022-01-04. Australian Museums and Galleries. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104065704/https://aumuseums.com/nsw/st-johns-union-church-running-stream. live.
  33. Web site: Turill Union Church - Former Churches Australia. live. 2022-01-04. www.churchesaustralia.org. en. 4 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104225814/https://www.churchesaustralia.org/list-of-churches/denominations/non-denominational/directory/1791-turill-union-church-former.
  34. Web site: Design . UBC Web . Walcha Union Church - Former Churches Australia . 2024-07-16 . www.churchesaustralia.org . en.
  35. Foundation stone of Yathella Union Church, Broadway Museum, Junee, NSW. The inscription reads, 'YATHELLA UNION CHURCH This stone was laid by C.R. Moss OCTR 15TH 1937 '
  36. Web site: Elphick . Graham . 2018-08-05 . Wallacetown was a bustling hive of activity . 2024-07-16 . Southern Cross . en-AU.
  37. Web site: YATHELLA . 2024-07-16 . nswgovschoolhistory.azurewebsites.net.