THE YEAR 1855 was a monumental one for Ballarat – the city was reeling after the Eureka Rebellion, trials for sedition and high treason were settled in favour of the rebelling diggers, and the Ballarat Star newspaper was born.
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The city was drunk on newcomers trying to strike it rich on the goldfields, but while some made their fortunes, just as many were down on their luck.
So perhaps it comes as no surprise that the good folk of Ballarat needed some spiritual sanctuary.
Brown Hill Methodist Church opened its first tent services in 1855, making it the third oldest church in Ballarat.
Two years later, a chapel was built on the present site in Humffray Street, with the brick church built in 1869.
In 1977, it became the Uniting Church after the Methodists amalgamated with the Presbyterian Church and Congregational Union
On Sunday, the church celebrated its 160th anniversary, welcoming 135 members, ministers and friends for a morning worship followed by a morning tea and two-course spit-roast lunch where attendees viewed an array of historical photos from the church’s long past.
The service was led by lay leader Jim de Jong with an uplifting soundscape thanks to the church’s Ecumenical Choir and an address by moderator Dan Wootton as the guest preacher.
The event was full to the brim, with church members flooding through to share their photos in the Kindergarten Hall and catch up to “remember the good old days”.
Church representative Liz Mason said members originally came from Gong Gong, Warrenheip, Pootilla and Glen Park.
She said in recent times, the Uniting Church had opened its arms to members from closed-down churches at Burnbank Street, St Cuthbert’s in Sturt Street and Barkly Street Uniting Church.
Ms Mason said the church focused on giving to the community.
“We seek to serve the community in which we are situated and sponsor the free Learn to Swim lessons at the Brown Hill Pool and run an Op Shop to provide low-cost items for the local community,” she said.
“We have a good relationship with Caledonian Primary School up the road and run a Breakfast Club on Wednesday mornings before school as well as providing encouragement awards at the annual final assembly each year.”
Ms Mason said the church also ran an after-school Kid’s Club once a term in the church hall and would this year put on a free community barbecue before its annual carol service on December 6.
The Australian Uniting Church is known as a liberal progressive church, having ordained women and gay people.
The Brown Hill Church has been eight years without a minister in placement, but has still held worship services on three Sundays each month and Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month.
The church has been leasing the minister’s house, the manse, and using the money for chaplain services in Ballarat hospitals and aged care.
