Maldon Historic Churches
Maldon has a number of beautiful historic churches:
1. WESLEYAN CHURCH AND PARSONAGE
Fountain Street
Use: Cascade Art Gallery (Privately owned)
Construction: Brick. Halls built 1855 and 1861, Parsonage 1858, Church 1863. Significance: Earliest church building still intact in Maldon.
History: The brick chapel behind the two gabled Sunday school rooms appears to have been the first church building in Maldon. The Argus (10 January 1856) had an article about the need for a day school in Maldon, and reported that there was one Wesleyan church in town. Before this, services were held in a tent. The church was constructed before Fountain Street was made and does not align with the street. The adjoining land was used as a cemetery until Fountain Street was constructed, when all the buried bodies had to be removed. There is a spring on the site where the church is erected. Interestingly, there is a rumour that a Wesleyan Minister threatened legal action against anyone caught removing more than one bucket of water from the spring.
Two more rooms were constructed in 1861, which align with Fountain Street. The new church was built in 1863 by Melbourne architects Crouch and Wilson, based on one of their designs in Emerald Hill, South Melbourne.
2. HOLY TRINITY ANGLICAN CHURCH
Church of England, High Street
Use: Church
Construction: 1861, local stone (hornfels) from the Bowes quarry owned by uncles of Jessie Bowe. It is the largest stone building in town.
History: The first Church of England hall was built in 1856 in Church Street. This building was destroyed by a storm in 1857. The present site was purchased in 1860 and the foundation stone was laid in 1861. Designed by the architect, D.R. Drape, the church was constructed in hornfels ragstone and grey granite, with trussed rafters. The opening of the church on 13 October 1861 marked the completion of the main body of the Church.
3. BAPTIST CHURCH
Cnr Edward & Templeton Streets
Use: Church
Construction: Brick, 1896
History: With land purchased by H. Pettitt on 8 March 1894, the foundation stone was laid on 29 January 1896. The English Baptists, after leaving the Welsh Baptists in 1895, constructed this church. Subsequently, the two churches reunited in 1930, when this building was used as the Church and the Welsh Baptist Church as the Sunday School.
4. WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH
Cnr Francis & Templeton Streets
Use: Privately owned
Construction: Brick, 1865
History: The land was first purchased by W. Linder on 10 March 1857. The Welsh Baptists opened the church in 1865, after holding their services in a weatherboard church in Reef Street, which has since been demolished. In 1895 the English Baptist Church was formed and they erected their own church in 1896.
5. WELSH CONREGATIONAL
Cnr Camp & Church Streets
Use: Church and associated activities
Construction: Brick, 1863 Significance: Severe design and lack of ornamentation is typical of non-conformist churches.
History: J. Lewis & Co purchased the land on 12 May 1863. Edward Bros of Castlemaine were contracted to build the structure and the new church was opened in September 1863. The Welsh period of the church ended in 1893 when the service was given in English. Additions were undertaken between 1901 and 1915.
6. ST BRIGID'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Cnr Chapel & Adair Streets
Use: Church
Construction: Brick, 1891
History: Initially, a school opened in 1854 on land granted by the Roman Catholic Church, with Mr Morgan as teacher, but it closed soon after. The present site was purchased by T. Tobin for the church committee. By September 1858 tenders were sought for erection of the church at a cost of 500 pounds. However, the successful tenderer was to receive 660 pounds /6s. The building was not completed at this stage and further tenders were sought to complete the foundation in 1859.
7. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Cnr Edward & Church Streets
Use: Maldon Neighbourhood Centre
Construction: Brick, 1905
History: Land was purchased on 10 November 1858 by D. Watt & Co. The first church was erected in timber in 1860, to the west of the later building. This structure was removed from the site to build the present church. Mrs M. Oswald laid the first stone in 1905.
Photos:
Location
Fountain Street, Maldon 3463 Map
