Bible Christian Church

The Bible Christian Church was a church in Redan, 1865-1902.

Bible Christians were a group that separated from the Wesleyan Methodists in 1815, following the teachings of William O'Bryan in Cornwall. What made the church different was their acceptance of female lay preachers.

The Bible Christians joined with the Primitive Methodists and Wesleyan Methodists to form the Methodist Church of Australia in 1902.

Site
The church was in Skipton Street.

History
The church was designed by notable Ballarat architect, H. R. Caselli, in 1865: "TENDERS required for Carpenters, Slaters, and Plumbers, Painters and Glaziers' works for the Bible Christian Church, in Skipton street. Drawings and specifications may be seen until Wednesday, the 13th inst., at the office of H. R. CASELLI, Architect."

The foundation stone was laid in August 1865: "The foundation stone of a new Bible Christian Chapel in Skipton street, at the end of Drummond street, was laid on Tuesday afternoon. The weather being fine, about two hundred persons assembled to witness the ceremony. The stone was laid by the Rev. Mr Orchard, and beneath it was deposited the customary bottle, filled with documents setting forth the names of the trustees of the church, the names of the ministers of the circuit, and other particulars connected with the denomination, together with copies of The Star and Evening Post. The Revs. Hosken, Sutton, Townend, and Halley were present to assist at the ceremony, and when it was concluded a collection was made in aid of the building fund. A soiree was afterwards held in the wooden building adjoining the church, which nearly the whole of those present at the laying of the stone attended. The church is to be built of bluestone, and the portion now being erected is 46 feet long by 36 feet wide; the total height is 57 feet, and the height of the walls 23 feet. The style of architecture is Anglo-Norman, and the cut-work in front is formed of tooled margin drafts. The plan shows a porch in front, with side entrances, and, with a view to the after extension of the building, it is intended to have the back wall merely boarded up and plastered, so that it can be easily removed. Mr Caselli is the architect, and Messrs Cox and Co. the contractors for the mason work, the cost of which alone will be between £500 and £600. The total cost of the building when ready for Divine service, it is estimated, will be about £900."

A letter from R. M. Serjeant to the council in October 1866 gives an indication of the that part of the neighbourhood. The mine shaft in question would have been opposite Serjeant's house in Darling Street: "From Mr R. M. Serjeant, complaining of the stench arising from an old shaft behind the Bible Christian chapel, Skipton street, being used as a deposit for dead horses and bullocks. It was stated that two men could fill the shaft easily in two days, as there was a quantity of earth near. It was agreed that the shaft should be filled up."

In 1881 the church was enlarged to accommodate a growing congregation. The early history of the church was documented in the Ballarat Star: BIBLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SKIPTON STREET. LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION-STONE. The congregation of the Bible Christian Church, Skipton street, finding that, owing to the revival in mining and the general prosperity of the district, the size of the original structure was insufficient to accommodate the large and increasing number of attendants, recently resolved to enlarge, the building. The addition is to be made to the rear of the church, and is to be 24 feet by 33 feet. The architect is Mr H. R. Caselli, and the contract was let to Messrs Lewis and Roberts, who are already proceeding with the work very expeditiously. The foundation-stone of the addition was laid yesterday afternoon, shortly after half-past 4 o’clock, by J. H. Williams, a gentleman who has always taken a great interest in the church, and who has been its secretary from the first, except for a short period, during which he was absent in England. The following rev. gentlemen were present at the ceremony:—Messrs Netherway, Teague, Walker, Hosken (Melbourne), and Bettiss (Clunes). After devotional exercise had been gone through, and previous to the ceremony, Mr Caselli the architect, presented Mr Williams with a silver trowel, manufactured by Mr J. T. Sleep, of Lydiard street. The trowel is a very handsome one, and its handle is made of Ballarat blackwood. Mr Williams, in acknowledging the handsome present, referred to the long acquaintanceship between Mr Caselli and himself. The stone was then declared well and truly laid, and the Rev. Mr Netherway read the following address: —Ladies and Gentlemen,—The history of the Bible Christian Church, Skipton street, affords ample proof of the rapid rise of the district, and the continually spreading influence of the Holy Bible in our midst. In the winter of 1862 the want of a religions place of worship having been keenly felt by the residents of Redan, the officials of the Bible Christian Society, worshipping in the Soldiers Hill Church, took the matter in hand, and having received as a gift from Mr John Cornish a house 24 feet by 20 feet, to which was attached a skillion 10 feet by 20 feet, had same improved and erected, and opened for religious worship on 7th September, 1862. As the land on which it stood was Crown land, Mr Hosken took the responsibility, on behalf of the quarterly meeting, the business being managed by a committee, and this responsibility he held till 5th February, 1864, when a meeting was held and arrangements made whereby a new church was to be erected (with sitting accommodation for 250), the land purchased, and trustees elected. The names of the gentlemen present at that meeting are—W. H. Hosken, J. Orchard, M. Caddy, J. H. Williams, J. Cornish, J. Barber, J. Goldsworthy, R. Hocking, and W. Harvey. The present substantial edifice was accordingly commenced, the contracts being let as under:—Builders, Messrs Cox and Cos; plasterers, Messrs Morris, Moore, and Co.; painters, &c., Messrs Lyons and Punching; carpenters, plumbers, and slaters, J. Bolton, with Mr H. R. Caselli, architect. The officers of the church then were—Secretary, Mr J. H. Williams; treasurer, M.. Caddy; ministers, W. H. Hosken, J. Orchard; trustees, M. Caddy, J. H. Williams, J. Goldsworthy, W. Harvey, R. Hocking, J. Barker, and J. C. Benney. The cost of building the present church, according to contracts, was £989 2s, and the seating incurred an additional outlay of £140. The corner stone was duly laid by the Rev. J. Orchard on 8th August, 1865, a silver trowel being presented by the church on the occasion, and the usual address was delivered by the Rev. W. H. Hosken, who also addresses you today. The after services in connection there with will long be remembered by all who took part. Great credit was given to the ladies attending the church in raising a good sum by the holding of a bazaar. The present church was opened on the last Sunday in March, 1866, the services being conducted by the Revs. J. Orchard and T. E. Keen. The mining success was then at its height, but a falling off in the gold returns, and consequently a lessening of population in the surrounding district, afterwards caused a depression, which unfortunately affected the church in so far as the attendance was concerned, but, as in many other cases, so in this, by God’s blessing we have been enabled to continue our labours successfully till the mining revival at Redan caused a return of population, and at the present time our church in Skipton street cannot nearly afford sufficient accommodation for applicants. Under these circumstances, and taking into account the fact that the present prosperous state of affairs bids fair to long continue, the trustees and congregation deemed it advisable to at once carry out the extensions of which we are about to lay the corner stone, and which accords with the original design. The land on which the church and school stand was purchased from the Government on 5th May, 1865, and being on the supposed line of gold-bearing stone, a lease has been granted to a company now called the Smith’s Freehold United Company, subject to a royalty of 4 per cent, on the gross yield of gold, so that we may yet be assisted in defraying the cost of our building by the returns from this source. We would point out the fact that not only is extra accommodation required in the church, but the Sabbath-school also is regularly overcrowded, and it will shortly be advisable to enlarge same considerably. The present officers of the B.C.C., Skipton street are:—Ministers Revs. G. Netherway, J. Teague; trustees, Messrs W. Harvey, R. Hocking, J. Barber, J. C. Benney, J, Goldsworthy, J. H. Williams, and M. Caddy; secretary, Mr J. H. William; treasurer, Rev. J. Netherway. The contrators for the present extensions are— Builders, - Messrs Lewis and Roberts; carpenters, Messrs Morris and Begg; plasterer, Mr W. Radley; plumbers, Messrs J. and J. M'Donald; painters, Messrs Lewis and Steinfield; and the outlay will amount to over £600. At the present time the the connexional offices are filled as follows:—President of the British Conference, Rev. James Horwill; foreign secretary, Rev. W. Gilbert; editor, Rev. F. W. Bourne; president Canadian and American Conference, Rev. W. Kenner ; president of the South Australian Conference, Rev. W. Richards; superintendent of the Victorian district, Rev. G. Netherway. The large number present then adjourned to the schoolroom adjoining for refreshments, which were provided and presided over by the following ladies:—Mesdames M. Williams and J. H. Williams, and Misses Stevens, West, Harvey, and Williams. After tea was over addresses were given by the rev. gentlemen present and others. The choir also contributed songs and hymns, and succeeded in providing a pleasant evening’s enjoyment.

The Hope of Redan Good Templar Lodge No. 317 was instituted at the Bible Christian Church Schoolroom, Skipton street, on 21 February 1889.

People

 * Joseph Rowsell (1860-1939), lay preacher.

Weddings
"RINGER—BENNETT —On the 28th February, 1890 at the Bible Christian Church Skipton Steet, Ballarat, Victoria, by the Rev. F. Mason, William Henry the eldest son of the late W. Ringer of Glenelg, South Australia, to Emma Phoebe, only daughter of the late William Charles Bennett, of Clunes, Victoria. Present address, 'Scillopia,' 142 Mary street, Fremantle, Western Australia"