23/10/2025
As we lead up to the 140 years here is an extract regarding the existing church noting the hall/church behind completed some 23 years prior.
See you this sunday 10am.
Opening of new Congregational Church at Geeveston 1886
The flourishing town of Geeveston was en fete yesterday on the occasion of the opening of a new Congregational church more commensurate with the requirements of the increasing population. The township takes its name from its founder the late William Geeves one of the early pioneers and a gentleman of energy and integrity who was universally respected. His lifetime was spent in conquering the bush and founding the settlement in 23 years ago he regarded his life labour as complete When a Congregational chapel was built and opened in which the residents could attend public worship his sons who approved themselves worthy gains of a noble father have followed the good example so will set before them in caring for the moral and spiritual well-being of the people in the settlement And yesterday witness the accomplishment of a grand undertaking. A new church was formally opened which would be a credit to any town and capable of holding 300 people. People turned out in force and were augmented by numerous visitors. The pleasing pictures is not however without its darker shading their respective past the Reverand JM Bailey who had lab at 12 years in the district and has done so much towards encouraging the people in this good work is about to leave for New South Wales for health considerations. This formed one regrettable circumstance in Yesterdays rejoicing but the hope was confidently expressed that a fitting successor would be found to labour for the spiritual welfare of the people.
To enable friends and well wishes from the city to attend on the auspicious occasion the SS human was charted to make a trip from Hobart to Geeveston returning again in the evening. The steamer left the wharf at 8 am yesterday with about 90 passengers on board including the Revs. George Clark (Davey Street Congregational Church), J.W. Simmons (union Chapel), G.W. Sharp (Memorial Church), John Nisbeth (New Town Church); Hon. John Watchhorn, MLC for the Huon District; Messrs P Facy, Maurice Weston, John Mitchell (solicitor), Henry Vautin (secretary Y.M.C.A.), W A. Weymouth, L. Lodge, John Witherington (superintendent New Town charitable institution), Johnson Dean, and other friends, including several visitors from the other colonies. The trip down the river was a highly enjoyable one, the bright sunshine being tempered by delightful cooling breeze. The picturesque scenery was much admired, in the day being clear and sun shining, it was seen in all its loveliness. The steamer reached the wharf, situated about 3 miles from Geeveston, and the company were met by numerous vehicles. The Messrs. Geeves and the settlers generally putting their conveyances at the disposal of the visitors nearly all were accommodated with seats and those who did not prove so lucky found a well formed road to tramp along, which afforded a very pleasant walk to the township. Later on, the S S. Pinafore arrived from Victoria and Franklin with a number of visitors from those districts; and altogether the influx of strangers was very considerable. The Twp held high holiday all the places of business were closed, and the people turned out in holiday attire.
By general consent the visitors on bent their steps towards the new church and made an inspection of it. It is substantially built of the excellent Wood for which the district is famous, is 52 ft. long, 29 ft. wide, and reaches to a height of 21 ft.
The inside is lined with deal boards, sized and varnished, and presents a very fine appearance. The doors have been similarly treated. The windows are of Gothic design, coloured in a highly successful manner with tinted frosting, and the lighting is supplied by powerful lamps. A commodious vestry, and other accessories have been supplied and altogether the building as it stands surmounted by its little belfry, is an ornament to the township, and is suited in every way for a place of worship. The seats are ample and comfortable, and conceit 250 worshippers, but, on a great occasion such as yesterday, 300 people can be accommodated without inconvenient crowding. The contractors were Messrs. Lomas and O’Beirne, and they are to be congratulated on the efficient manner in which they have carried out the work entrusted them. The inspection of the building having been leisurely accomplished, the people assembled in the old chapel to partake of luncheon. This Building, which is capable of seating 125 people, will now be used as a Sunday school, and so utilised as an important auxiliary to the more pretentious structure now overshadowing it. So large was the attendance at the luncheon that the people had to be served in relays, and it was computed that about 400 people sat down at the tables from first to last. The luncheon was an excellent and substantial one, and was thoroughly enjoyed. The hon. John Watchhorn, M.L.C., and Mr.B.S.Bird, M.H.A., presided at the tables, and the ones of numerous guests were well attended by bevy of Huon Belles.
After All had part Tekken of luncheon an adjournment was made to the church, which was crowded to its utmost capacity. The proceedings were opened by the singing of a hymn, after which the Rev. George Clarke engaged in prayer, invoking a blessing on the building now consecrated to the Service of God.
The Rev. J.M.Bayley then delivered a short address, in which he said that he gave him great pleasure in meeting so large a company in the new church in circumstances so favourable in every respect. On behalf of the committee and the members and friends of the church in Geeveston he offered to their friends from Hobart very sincere thanks for the kindness in coming so far from the great city into the bush in order to take part in the joyful meeting of that day. He was glad to know that they had a good voyage and had arrived at the city of Liverpool in such good spirits.(Laughter.) they were glad that Hobart friends had mustard so well in order to strengthen the hands of the people of Geeves Town, and they trusted that the visitors would enjoy the meeting now to be held, the journey homeward, and that none of them would ever regret paying this visit to Geeves Town. (Applause.) he thought that they might all congratulate each other on the accomplishment of the work which had been in hand for some years. The people in this district had been working as earnestly as they could, and giving as liberally as their means could afford in order to provide a house of God more suited to the requirements of the congregation. After a long period of the unit and Ernest work they had succeeded in securing, what was considered to be, a sufficient sum of money to authorise the er****on of this building, and had thought that the friends from a distance who were present, would agree that it was no discredit to Geeveston (Applause.) he thought that the Geeveston people might well be proud of the Building, and friends from Hobart also as they had helped in a measure to erect it, and cause they had come down that day in numbers to subscribe towards the fund for paying off the debt.(Laughter and applause.) he expressed his pleasure at seeing members for the district in the Legislative council and Legislative assembly present, and called upon the Hon. John Watchorn to preside over the meeting.
The Hon. Mr. Watchorn, who was accorded a cordial welcome, said that he was proud of the opportunity of being present on this interesting occasion, and thanked the Rev. Mr. Bayley for the kind manner which he had spoken of him, and for inviting him to be present. He greatly accepted the invitation, and he must say that he was very much astonished at the fine church that he had the pleasure of standing in; he was not prepared to see such a Building as this in the country District of the Huon. As members for the Huon he was proud of this building, and the people who had erected it. he was proud to think that they had the energy to erect the building of this kind and he hoped that it would realise the most sauine expectations in concluding he referred to the importance of having Churches planted in such localities as guides to the people in the path of religion and morality, and called upon the treasurer Mr Osborne Geeves to submit a statement of the present position of the church.
In 1878 the committee collected £99 0s. 11d.;
In 1879, £58 5s. 4d.;
In 1880, £29 8s. 3d.;
In 1881, £26 5s. 5d.;
In 1882, £27 16s. 6d.;
In 1883, £72 14s. 7d.;
In 1884, £172 1s. 6d.;
In 1885, £176 18s. 9d.; and for the present year, up to date, £71. There fell to be added to this sum £46 1s. 8d. which had accrued in the shape of interest, making the total fund £780 12s.11d. The church cost £952 10s., and the contractors had been paid £655, leaving a balance of £297 10s. Which would be reduced by the sum of £68 18s. in bank. He enumerated a number of other items which were still to be paid, including the proposed er****on of a stable and those additional items estimated would increase the deficit to £340.
The whole of the money had been collected in the district, with a little help from outside. He would like to mention that the New Town congregation had made a special collection in aid of the church and he desired to thank them sincerely (hear,hear.) this kindness was not expected or look for, that was an entirely voluntary act, and they were very thankful for the recognition (Applause.) in addition they had purchased an organ, which cost £43, and in payment of which a fund of £17 7s. 9d. had been collected, leaving a debt on the instrument of £25. He concluded by expressing his gratification at seeing the church opened in the presence of such a large company. The statement was considered highly satisfactory and was unanimously approved of.
The Rev. George Clarke, who was next called upon, said that as the time was so short he would condense his remarks into a few words. He had simply to hardly congratulate them upon this great work, and the spirited way in which they had carried it out. When he looked round this audience and thought of the past, he was reminded that he was getting a very old man especially when he looked at the faces of the young people some he was almost ashamed to tell it, so long has it been since he was at Geeves Town, who were on his last visit babies, were now men and women, and he believed that some of them were mothers or fathers. He had been present at the opening of the small church, in which they had just had lunch, and although he had not been able to come down and see them as often as he would have liked, he was saying the simple truth when he said that he took a Christian interest in watching their progress. He was delighted to see that the tradition with which Geeves Town was laid had not only not faded away, but had taken deep root in the community. he could see that they had here the elements of what might prove to be a very strong influential centre which would have an influence upon Congregational churches in other parts of the island. He could only hope that they would go on and prosper, and that as the elder people felt that they were getting too weak for the work, that the young people would take it up and carry it forward, so that the church down here might be known not only here but in the other colonies as a church it was doing much good.
Rev. G.W.Sharpe said that Mr. Clarke had referred to the traditions with which Geeves Town was associated. He presumed he referred to the Congregational aroma which was always associated in connection with the name of Geeves. (Hear,hear.) since he (Mr. Sharpe) came to the colony he had frequently heard this association mentioned, and it reminded him of a little place in Great Britain called Saltaire, where the whole of the institutions were Congregational. The reason he rejoiced in this was not because he did not like Episcopalians, or Presbyterians, or any other denomination, but because he believed in Congregationalism, and that it as a church system produced the best men. There was a great deal of namby-pamby religious feeling abroad these days. People told them that they must get men and women brought to Christ so they must, but he thought that the best way to bring them to Christ was to get them intercongregational Churches; and while they believe that they must do all they could to see that their form of church government and the way they carried out their principles was in accordance with the apostolic precept.
The Rev. Mr. Nesbitt said that he could only reiterate the good wishes expressed by the previous speakers. He felt the greatest interest in the undertaking because the late Mr. Geeves was the means of introducing the principles of Congregationalism into this district, and rejoiced that that worthy gentleman had left behind those who proved themselves worthy successors, not only in name, but in abiding usefulness.
Rev J . W Simmons expressed great satisfaction with the work done as concerned the material fabric, but asked the pertinent question,” What was their intentions concerning the moral fabric?” he confessed that the meeting that day was not altogether one full of gladness to his mind a new church and a retiring pastor did not quite fit. He paid a tribute to the Rev.Mr. Bayley’s services in the district, and expressed I hope that the future of the church would be one of prosperity.
At this stage a collection was taken in aid of the debt still remaining on the church the sum of £30 14s. 8d. was collected Mr. Geeves intimated that he had received the following donations that day Mr. New man Arnold, £5; Mr. James Salier, £3 3s. and Messrs. Lomas and O’Bierne, contractors, £1. He also stated the luncheon amounted to about £10, so that roughly speaking, the handsome sum of £50 was netted in liquidation of the debt.
Mr B. S. Bird. Proposed a little thanks to the speakers and chairman in a felicitous speech which was seconded by Mr. John Geeves in a few racy remarks brimful of reminiscences of the Geeves Town congregation.
The vote was hardly passed, and the proceedings terminated.
The trip Homewood was most the delightful one the night being a fine moonlight one on voyage the majority of the passengers part of tea, and the stewart Mr. Bowden, had a very busy time of it attending to their numerous wants. Considering the unusual demand the table was excellent. The homeward trip was enlivened with a number of world rendered selections by an impromptu choir, and the wharf was reached about 10:30pm. all having highly enjoyed the visit to Geeves Town.
