About us
In the beginning...
Methodism in Victor Harbor began with Mr. A. Fydell Lindsay who came to Australia in the Buffalo from England. He was a member of the District Council of Encounter Bay and donated land for the Wesleyan Church in 1865 on the block now owned by the Salvation Army Citadel (formerly Lutheran Church). The Wesleyan Church Building was demolished in 1931.
The Newland Congregational Church opened in 1927, then the Methodist Young People's Department purchased Adare Castle for a conference centre in 1954.
On October 9th, 1954, a large gathering from all over the state witnessed the opening of Adare and the first parsonage in Cudmore Road. Pastor Alex Wright and Pastor R. Laslett greatly assisted with the initial establishment of both properties. The manse was financed mainly from the sale of the Goolwa parsonage. The Rev. Cliff Symons established the Conference Centre in Victor Harbor.
The first congregation was accommodated in the dining room at Adare. Later the wall between the dining room and the lounge was removed to make room for the growing number of Methodists. The Sunday School began in the garage, with some classes held in the tower. English bells in the tower were amplified to ring out over the town before morning and evening services.
On January 30th, 1956, foundation stones were laid for the present church building. On July 29th, 1956, 500 people were present at the official opening, with a choir of 45 singers. The address was given by the Rev. Keith Wiseman.
The church changed its name to Adare Uniting Church in 1977 after becoming part of the Uniting Church in Australia. For further references see Forward in Faith: a history of selected south coast churches compiled by Irma Sprigbett, Rex I. Crisp and Rev. G. Branson, and published by the South Coast Uniting Parish Victor Harbor in 1985.
| Minister | Years of service |
|---|---|
| Rev. Alex Wright | 1954 - 1956 |
| Rev. Keith Wiseman | 1956 - 1960 |
| Rev. Doug Telfer | 1960 - 1964 |
| Rev. Claude Cotton | 1964 - 1967 |
| Rev. Maurice Secomb | 1967 - 1972 |
| Rev. Doug Mack | 1972 - 1978 |
| Rev. Bob Lovell | 1978 - 1982 |
| Rev. Rob Brown | 1983 - 1985 |
| Rev. Brian Chalmers | 1985 - 1991 |
| Pastor Evan Laslett (interim) | 1992 |
| Rev. Norm Scrimshaw | 1992 - 1998 |
| Pastor Don Richardson | Jan 1999 - Mar 1999 |
| Pastor Brian Tugwell | Apr 1999 - Jun 1999 |
| Rev. Rob Moores | Jul 1999 - Apr 2004 |
| Rev. Dr. Rodger Bassham | Jun 2004 - Jul 2004 |
| Rev. Trevor O'Brien | Jul 2004 - Jun 2005 |
| Rev. Dr. Rodger Bassham | Jul 2005 - Nov 2005 |
| Rev. Trevor O'Brien | 2006 |
| Rev. Ian Kitto | 2007 |
Other history notes
Anderson Grove Manse was opened on 12th November 1972. McDonald Classrooms opened in 1963, with 120 children and 20 teachers.
Mt. Breckon, formerly the Adelaide Bible College, required students to do practical teaching, resulting in no shortage of Sunday School teachers.
Sunday School superintendents 1954 -1985 were: Harry Lush, Harry Landsmear, Alan Field, Don Overall, Ken Nowland, Jim Crouch, Roger Arnold, Venita Glazbrook, Dorothy Thiem, Helen Abbott, Ron Cook. By 1985 there were 32 students and 4 teachers.
Between 1957 and 1981 Adare had up to six teams in the Great Southern Netball Association, coached by Jenny Fletcher. The Ladies Guild was formed in 1954. Womens Fellowship was augmented by the Sunday School Auxiliary which disbanded in 1967.
On August 12th, 1956, a Memorial Tablet was unveiled in the front porch of the church by the Rev. R. League. It is a wooden carving, in the form of an open book, with a perpetual shining light.
The Church hall, built at the rear of the Church was opened in 1959. Prior to this, the Vestry for the minister was a simple screen over the back door.
This year is our 50th anniversary.