Church in history

Throughout the Carngham Uniting Church’s long history, it has often appeared in the local newspapers of the time.

Photographers have captured the various faces of the church. People have used the loved the church since it was formally donated to the community. Have a look at the small snapshot of stories from times gone by.

For instance a glorious black and white clipping from the ‘Australia’ publication in May 1947, on page 22 shows a photograph of Mrs. Griffith Weatherly and her sister, Margaret Russell. Caption indicates they are the ‘teen-age daughters of Major and Mrs. Phillip Russell from Carngham, Victoria.

Mrs. Weatherly was married on March 19th 1947 in the Presbyterian Church which her paternal great-grandfather gave to the Carngham parish to mark the 50th anniversary of his arrival in Australia. After honeymooning in Frankston, she was responsible for helping to manage her husband’s large station property, Blythvale, Streatham, Victoria.’ Mrs. Griffith Weatherly was Miss. Rosemary Russell before marriage. The gowns worn in this photograph are presumed to come from Stone’s Store, Ballarat.

Stone’s Store, now Intersport on Bakery Hill, Ballarat, was a high-end clothing store for women started in 1854, which was also home to Jessica Simon (nee Stone) the fashion queen of Ballarat. From the 1930's Jessica designed dresses and bridalwear for the boutique, signing off her pieces with a label reading "Your Jessica for Luck".

27th August 1892 the will and testament of Mr Philip Russell was published in the Leader in Melbourne. In this will the wealthy grazier and pastoralist dedicated a signficant sum to the building of a new church and manse “to be as nearly as possible the same design as Scots’ Church in Collins Street”. It is this Will which makes our Carngham Uniting Church such an important part of our local community, but also an important part of our State’s history.

We’re looking forward to Heritage Victoria protecting the church on the State register!