Congregational Church Light Square

Fast Facts

Place type:	Building
Address:	1A Moore Street
Town or Locality:	Gawler

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Congregational Church (opened 1861) & original Congregational Chapel (opened 1851)

Click here to view more photos and articles relating to the Congregationalists and their churches. Further photos of the churches can be seen in the Flickr portfolio of photographer ‘aqilareen’ (album "Churches - Sth Aust- Ga").

Click here to view historical information from the 1998 Danvers Heritage Survey regarding this location.

History of Gawler Congregationalists & their Churches

Congregationalists, or Independents as they were also known, began worshipping in Gawler as early as 1848, holding their services on Sunday mornings in the wooden schoolhouse on Scheibener Terrace (the Wesleyans/Methodists also held their services there, using the building Sunday afternoons and evenings).

In August 1850 the Congregationalists purchased allotment 111, a large allotment that fronts Light Square from Moore Street to Cowan Street (see original Gawler Town Plan, contemporary address 1A Moore Street). They built their first chapel there, opening it on Christmas Day 1851. The following year was a trying time, with mass exodus from Gawler to Victoria in response to the goldrush, including the newly appointed Congregational minister! (see below for details of the Congregational ministers.) However by 1861, the Congregationalists were prospering and a new larger church, designed by prominent colonial architect James Macgeorge, was built alongside the original chapel (on the Moore Street side of the large allotment). The foundation stone was laid on the 18 March 1861 by Congregational Church Chairman William Peacock “in the presence of a few people who were brave enough to face the heavy rain in order to witness the ceremony.”, a bottle was laid underneath the stone, containing an inscription, copies of the Adelaide papers and the names of the Queen and Governor; Walter Duffield read out the inscription. Opening services took place on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 November 1861, with Alexander Hay Esq called to be chairman [some sources, including Coombe (1910), incorrectly suggest he laid the foundation stone] and Walter Duffield treasurer – the new church and furnishings having cost around £1200. The original chapel became the schoolhouse; in 1873 it was enlarged and the stone wall was built around the church allotment.

In 1866, a substantial manse was built just across Light Square to house the Congregational minister [see 19 Cowan Street]. By 1875 the Bunyip (6 Aug 1875) reported “The church property comprises a commodious church with sitting-room for 300, and a large school room, built on a commanding site, and surrounded by a substantial stone wall. A neat parsonage adjoins the church, with half an acre of garden, also enclosed with a substantial wall. The total value of the church property is about £2,500.” Further improvements were made over the years; 1882 saw the addition of a vestry to the church and roof repairs after a severe storm, which impacted numerous Gawler buildings, uplifted the leaden ridge capping and hurled slates some distance. In 1885, a pipe organ custom built by colonial organ manufacturers Fincham and Hobday was installed, costing about £200. [For an extensive description of it see Bunyip (18 Sep 1885) ] Then 1896 saw the installation of gas lighting in the church and 1898 the addition of two new classrooms to the schoolhouse, costing £120, a large part donated by Miss Mary Ann Duffield.

In 1901 the Congregational Church celebrated their 50th Jubilee; as part of the celebrations significant interior and exterior renovations were undertaken and the church tower, the foundations of which were laid 40 years earlier when the second church was built, was completed. “Mr. B. E. Deland performed the duties of architect and supervisor, Mr. W. H. Cox did the painting and decorating Mr. W. H. Robinson the plastering and Mr. W. Corey the masonry.”

Under the leadership of incumbent Rev A H Austin, the absence of a church for the considerable settlement at Sandy Creek was addressed by the Gawler Congregational Church in 1904; the foundation stone for a Sandy Creek Congregational Church being laid by the Reverend’s wife Mrs Austin on 21 September and the first service held on 23 November. From then regular services were held on Sunday afternoons by the minister from Gawler. The Sandy Creek Church, now a Uniting Church, celebrated 120 years in 2024 and is still serving in 2026.

In 1911, the Congregationalists celebrated their 60 year Diamond Jubilee and it was proposed to build a hall for a week day Kindergarten School, so fund raising commenced – Miss Sarah Duffield (eldest daughter of Walter Duffield) donated £200 and Mr William Gilbert Payne offered to donate £50 if the hall was opened debt free.

The building was designed by Mr J St M Makin and Mr E W Corey of Gawler was contracted to build it for £515. It was built on the Cowan Street side of the large church allotment; the foundation stone was laid by H B Crosby on 6 November 1912, the “Duffield Kindergarten Hall” was officially opened on 16 April 1913 by Miss Sarah Duffield and a brass plaque on front exterior of the building was unveiled Feb 1914 – it read: “This building is named the Duffield Kindergarten Hall in recognition of the loving interest shown by the Duffield family towards the Gawler Congregational Church; Miss Duffield declared this Hall open April 16th. 1913.”

(Bunyip 20 Feb 1914) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97734633

(Daily Herald 9 Nov 1912) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/105266393

(Bunyip 20 Feb 1914) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97734633

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Congregational Ministers

The following list of Gawler Congregational Church Ministers has been compiled from multiple sources. From 1904 when the Sandy Creek Congregational Church was established, the Gawler Congregational ministers also served at Sandy Creek.

Rev Edward Aggett (Dec 1851 – Oct 1852)

First minister appointed to Congregational Church, he resigned Oct 1852 – the rush to the Victorian goldfields left few men in Gawler and the problem arose of how to provide the minister’s income, he ended up moving to Victoria!

Rev John Milbourne Lewis (10 Apr 1853 – 1855)

Came to the church from Lyndoch Valley, after serving at Gawler for just over two years he was ill for a period of three months, before dying on 29 Sep 1855, aged just 34 years. At his request, his remains were transported 7 miles from Gawler Town, so they could be interred at the Gawler River Methodist Cemetery, which was connected with the Wesleyan Chapel. It was not until 53 years later that his grave, which had not been marked, was surrounded with an iron railing and a memorial was unveiled by his daughter in the presence of church members and other descendants. The memorial is inscribed “Erected by Friends in Memory of the Rev. J. M. Lewis, Minister of the Congregational Church, Gawler. 1853-1855. He being dead yet speaketh." [**Photo of memorial**]

Rev John Leonard, B.A. (Sept 1856 – Dec 1860)

During his time as Congregational minister he resided at ‘Hylands House’, which was owned by Walter Duffield a staunch supporter of the Congregational Church. Whilst at Hylands, the house was enlarged significantly from a four room cottage to a grand eight room home (contemporary address 22b Cowan Street, see History of the site and buildings of the ZION WORSHIP Centre). Rev Leonard established a Grammar School as well as carrying out ministerial duties – although stepping down from role of minister at the end of 1860, in 1863 he was still in the area, running “Bentley School” in Gawler Hills. [see Bentley Farm]

Rev G G Howden (22 Oct 1861 – 31 Aug 1863)

Arrived direct from England, then removed to Sydney. It was during his ministry in 1861 that the new Congregational Church building was opened.

[12 months without minister]

Rev C J Evans (Sep 1864 – Mar 1871)

Arrived from England, having previously studied in New York. It was during his tenure in 1866 that the Congregational Church Manse was built (contemporary address 19 Cowan Street), so he was the first of many Congregational Church ministers to reside there. At the end of his tenure he returned to England – his furniture and homewares were auctioned at the manse.

Rev John Clunie McMichael (13 Apr 1871 – 30 June1876)[**Portrait**]

Arrived from Ballarat, then removed to England for a prolonged visit. At the end of his tenure his possessions were also auctioned from the manse.

Rev Mervyn Moss Whitton (2 Aug 1876 – Sep 1879)

Arrived from Victoria. After leaving the church, he was controversially appointed as the Gawler Institute Librarian and Secretary; he resigned after only a few months, departing for Adelaide. By 1887 he was incumbent of South Yorke Peninsula, when his wife ‘Bessie’ Elizabeth Anne Whitton (37) who had been an invalid for some years passed away at Edithburgh Parsonage, her remains were conveyed by steamer for burial at St George’s Cemetery Gawler (Plot E 36).

Rev John Henry Lewis (Sept 1880 – 28 Dec 1881) [**Portrait**]

Originally from England, he arrived from ministering in New Zealand but was “in delicate health, and it was feared from the first that his time for work on earth was destined to be short.” He resigned on 28 Dec 1881 and died 2 Jan 1882, aged 32 – the second young Rev Lewis from Gawler’s Congregational Church to pass away after a short tenure. He was buried at Willaston Cemetery and the church had an iron railing and memorial erected, it is inscribed “In Memoriam Revd J. H. Lewis Pastor Congregational Church Gawler, Died 2 Jany 1882. Aged 32. Erected in token of loving esteem by his congregation, in whose hearts he still lives. A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ.” (plot 57 C 4).

Rev Walter Henry Jones (Aug 1882 – Oct 1901)

Longest serving Congregational Church minister – nearly 20 years – see Jones Reverend Walter for more details and a link to images.

Rev A H Austin, B.A. (Jan 1903 – Dec 1905)

South Australian born, he came to Gawler from Sydney – he inaugurated work at Sandy Creek, where there was a considerable settlement with no church. Foundation stone for Sandy Creek church was laid by his wife Mrs Austin B.A., on 21 Sep 1904 and the first service held 23 Nov 1904. [photo of Sandy Creek foundation stone being laid]

Rev Frederic Warner (Nov 1906 – Dec 1912) Foundation stone for Sandy Creek Church vestry was laid by his wife Mrs Warner, on 17 July 1907.

Rev Percival Watson (Aug 1912 – Oct 1914)

Rev L W Fay (1915 – Nov 1918)

Rev Hopkin Llewelyn Willett Bevan, M.A. (May 1919 – Dec 1933)

Born in England, he was the son of a minister and he undertook study and work abroad. He came to Gawler in 1919 and as well as his ministerial role he became Chair of Gawler Primary School (1919 -c1923) and chaplain for the Freemasons and scouts. Rev Bevan died on 28 Dec 1933, in a North Adelaide private hospital after an illness of several weeks, aged 62, and was buried at West Terrace Cemetery. For more details see his obituary - The News (28 Dec 1933). His only child was son, Medhurst Llewelyn Willett Bevan.

Rev F G Harvey, M.A., B.D. (Jun 1934– May 1937)

Rev Henry V T Wood (Oct 1937– Sept 1940)

Rev W J Williams (Dec 1940 – Jan 1943)

Pastor T Wellington (1943 – Mar 1946)

Rev J McKinna (1946 – May 1954)

Rev A Clifford Jones (Jul 1955 – June 1956)

Rev H V Woolley (Jul 1956 – Dec 1956)

Rev J R Digance, B.A. (Jun 1957 – Feb 1959)

Rev A R Mitchell (Mar 1959 – unknown)

Related Articles

• Moore Street 1A
• Cowan Street 19

References

Congregational Church & Congregational Chapel - c1895

Congregational Church - Light Square - Harvest Festival - c1896

Memories of Congregational Church Light Square

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