Tasmanian Council of Churches

The Tasmanian Council of Churches encompasses various bodies of leaders from the evangelical Christian churches of the Australian colony or state of Tasmania, formed to present a unified front to influence public discourse and government policy, and also served to increase communication and cooperation between rival churches with similar aims and philosophies. This article traces the histories of the major councils of churches in Tasmania through a list of their presidents and to a lesser extent their secretaries, punctuated with notes on turning points in their histories.

History

Two councils ran simultaneously in Tasmania until 1907: the Southern or Hobart council and the Northern or Launceston council. In 1906 a "State" or Tasmanian council was established with two branches, centred on Hobart and Launceston.

Southern Tasmanian Council of Churches

Sometime around 1890, the ministers of Hobart's non-episcopal churches began holding monthly meetings to discuss matters of common concern. Out of this grew an annual week of discussions which included lay members, held at premises of a different church each evening. This resulted in a Council of Churches, which met on alternate months to the Ministers' Association.[1]

  • James Scott (died 17 February 1905) has been cited as first president.[2]
  • 1897 G. W. Sharp (Congregational, died March 1920)[3] remained president until 1902.

H. B. Barber secretary

  • 1902 James Blaikie (Baptist)[4]

John W. Roberts (Congregational), secretary

  • 1904 Henry Worrall[5]

Secretary W. A. Gann

  • 1905 G. W. Sharp[2]
  • 1906 James Barr[6]

Council of Churches of Northern Tasmania

(also, initially, "Council of Free Churches", as in Britain)

  • 1898 William Law

Henry Jones, secretary[7]

  • 1899 Henry Jones[8]
  • 1900 A. Madsen[9]
  • 1902 J. G. Wright[10] There was no 1901 election, so Madsen was president for 19 months; secretary was Andrew R. Osborn.

This council must have failed, as in March 1906 members of the Congregational Union voted to found a Council of Free Churches, with the Congregational delegates being Revs. Mearns, Massie, A. J. B. Rofe, W. A. Gann, J. G. Wright, G. W. Sharp, and W. Baily.[11] No such council has been found, but . . .

State Council of Churches / Tasmanian Council of Churches

First incarnation, 1906

Constituted 1906 at Ross[12]

  • 1906 James Barr (Hobart)[13]
  • 1906 Frank Lade (Hobart)[14]

W. Austin Gann was Hobart secretary; H. Bride Barber was Launceston secretary, resigned 1907,[15] succeeded by S. H. Morrison.

W. Austin Gann was secretary[14]

  • 1910 G. W. Sharp (Hobart)[21][22] his third presidency.

AGM in March 1910 only three Launceston delegates attended[23] so only formal business was transacted. Beck, who had requested that date, did not appear. F. W. Boreham secretary

  • 1911 J. Francis Mather[24]
  • 1911 Sidney J. Baker (Congregational, Launceston)
  • 1912 H. T. Postle (Hobart)[25]
  • 1912 F. C. Spurr (Baptist, Launceston)

F. W. Boreham, secretary[26]

  • 1913 F. W. Boreham (Hobart) six years as secretary, two as president
  • 1913 S. Sharp (Launceston) left for NSW; succeeded by J. W. Holt (aka Wilfred J. Holt, Presbyterian)
  • 1914 Joseph Snell (Hobart)
  • 1914 William H. Harris (Launceston)
  • 1915 W. R. C. Jarvis (Hobart)

H. A. Overend was secretary

  • 1915, 1916 C. C. Dugan (Hobart)
  • 1917–1919 E. Herbert Hobday

H. G. Secomb was secretary 1917–1919

Donovan F. Mitchell was secretary in 1924[27]

Second incarnation, 1925

In 1925 the Tasmanian Council of Churches was established, embracing the whole state with representatives from Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational Churches, Churches of Christ, Society of Friends, and the Salvation Army, with the old Southern Tasmanian Council of Churches functioning as a district council of the State organisation. First president was W. Corly Butler, and secretary Rev. D. F. Mitchell.[28]

  • 1925 W. Corly Butler[29] (Methodist)[30] resigned 1926 as he was leaving Tasmania.
  • 1926 G. B. Murphy appointed to both councils[31] but died 30 June 1926.[32]
  • 1926 A. C. Nelson[33]
  • 1927 E. E. Unwin
  • 1928 Raymond Farrer[34]
  • 1929 Charles Matear[35]

Josiah Park (Church of Christ) was secretary 1929[36] – c. 1950.

  • 1930 G. Calvert Barber (Methodist)
  • 1931 Harold J. Ralph
  • 1932 H. G. Hackworthy[37]
  • 1933 David Lewis
  • 1934 W. N. Gunson
  • 1935 Ernest E. Unwin[38]
  • 1936 L. A. Bowes
  • 1937 Norman H. Joughin
  • 1938 J. C. Salter[39]
  • 1939 F. E. Richards
  • 1940 Harold J. Ralph[40]
  • 1941 L. A. Bowes[41]
  • 1942 E. Roberts-Thomson[42]
  • 1943 J. A. Munro-Ford[43]
  • 1944 Gordon Arthur[44]
  • 1945 F. L. Inglis[45]
  • 1946 H. S. Grimwade[46]
  • 1947 J. C. Salter[47]
  • 1948
  • 1949 L. Stranks[48]
  • 1950 J. S. Mackie[49]

The Jane Franklin Hall was established by the Council in 1950 as a residential college for women, became co-educational in 1973.

Tasmanian Council of Churches

In April 1946 a new council of churches was inaugurated at Evandale, Tasmania as a regional committee of the Australian section of the World Council of Churches, the Anglican Bishop G. F. Cranswick being elected president.[50] He was reelected in 1947.[51] Cranswick and Calvert Barber, president of the Methodist Conference, were appointed delegates to the first General Assembly of the WCC at Amsterdam on 22 August 1948, attended by representatives of every major church (with certain exceptions, notably the Roman Catholic).[52]

References

  1. ^ "Hobart Ministers' Association". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXVIII, no. 8265. Tasmania, Australia. 25 August 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXXIII, no. 10, 940. Tasmania, Australia. 5 April 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Late Rev. G. W. Sharp". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXII, no. 15, 720. Tasmania, Australia. 16 March 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXVIII, no. 10, 211. Tasmania, Australia. 3 December 1902. p. 8. Retrieved 3 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXXI, no. 10, 660. Tasmania, Australia. 14 May 1904. p. 7. Retrieved 1 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Council of Churches". Daily Telegraph (Launceston). Vol. XXVI, no. 84. Tasmania, Australia. 7 April 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 1 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Council of Free Churches". Launceston Examiner. Vol. LIX, no. 162. Tasmania, Australia. 8 July 1899. p. 11. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Council of Churches". Launceston Examiner. Vol. LIX, no. 280. Tasmania, Australia. 23 November 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Council of Free Churches". Daily Telegraph (Launceston). Vol. XXI, no. 122. Tasmania, Australia. 23 May 1901. p. 3. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Current Topics". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXII, no. 299. Tasmania, Australia. 16 December 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Afternoon Session". Daily Telegraph. Vol. XXVI, no. 58. Tasmania, Australia. 9 March 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Council of Churches". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXV, no. 134. Tasmania, Australia. 6 June 1906. p. 8. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Council of Churches for Southern Tasmania". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXXV, no. 11, 279. Tasmania, Australia. 10 May 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 2 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ a b c "Council of Churches". Tasmanian News. No. 8101. Tasmania, Australia. 16 May 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 1 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Religion & Temperance". Daily Telegraph (Launceston). Vol. XXVII, no. 87. Tasmania, Australia. 12 April 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 2 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Tasmanian Baptist Union". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXXVII, no. 11, 559. Tasmania, Australia. 4 April 1907. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Council of Churches". Daily Telegraph (Launceston). Vol. XXVIII, no. 251. Tasmania, Australia. 19 October 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 2 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "A Clergyman's Appreciation". Daily Post (Hobart). Vol. III, no. 22. Tasmania, Australia. 26 January 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Tattersall's". The Examiner (Launceston). Vol. LXIX, no. 184. Tasmania, Australia. 4 August 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "King's Birthday". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XCII, no. 12, 372. Tasmania, Australia. 16 November 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XCIII, no. 12, 499. Tasmania, Australia. 15 April 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "The Rev. G. W. Sharp". Daily Post (Hobart). Vol. III, no. 195. Tasmania, Australia. 29 August 1910. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "State Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XCIII, no. 12, 487. Tasmania, Australia. 1 April 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Council of Churches". The Mercury. Vol. XCV, no. 12, 875. Tasmania, Australia. 30 June 1911. p. 6. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Council of Churches". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. LXXI, no. 112. Tasmania, Australia. 10 May 1912. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Local Option". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XCVII, no. 13, 237. Tasmania, Australia. 30 August 1912. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "The Hospital Lottery. Council of Churches and the Premier". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXX, no. 14, 657. Tasmania, Australia. 19 May 1924. p. 2. Retrieved 22 April 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Notes of the Day". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXIII, no. 18, 066. Tasmania, Australia. 23 September 1925. p. 6. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Meetings". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXIII, no. 18, 022. Tasmania, Australia. 1 August 1925. p. 13. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "A Clergyman's Protest". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 251. Queensland, Australia. 5 March 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Personal". The Mercury. Vol. CXXIV, no. 18, 208. Tasmania, Australia. 10 March 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Obituary". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXV, no. 18, 302. Tasmania, Australia. 1 July 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 31 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "Late Sir Henry Jones". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 456. Queensland, Australia. 1 November 1926. p. 14. Retrieved 20 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.From 1926 AGM was held late November or early December.
  34. ^ "Church Column". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXIX, no. 19, 056. Tasmania, Australia. 3 December 1928. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Congregational Church". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 18 October 1930. p. 16. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "Notable Developments in Church Work". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CL, no. 21, 248. Tasmania, Australia. 2 January 1939. p. 9 (Tasmania in 1938). Retrieved 14 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Church News & Notes". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXXXVII, no. 20, 370. Tasmania, Australia. 21 November 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ^ "Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXLIII, no. 20, 311. Tasmania, Australia. 30 November 1935. p. 13. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ "Letters to the Editor". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CXLIX, no. 21, 219. Tasmania, Australia. 28 November 1938. p. 8. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "State Council of Churches". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CLII, no. 21, 842. Tasmania, Australia. 28 November 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ "Obituary". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CII, no. 13. Tasmania, Australia. 27 March 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ^ "New President of State Churches' Council". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CI, no. 224. Tasmania, Australia. 30 November 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ "Dr Munro Ford President". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CLVIII, no. 22, 775. Tasmania, Australia. 29 November 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ^ "Personal". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CLX, no. 23, 084. Tasmania, Australia. 25 November 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ "New Presidnt". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CLXII, no. 23, 380. Tasmania, Australia. 10 November 1945. p. 5. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. ^ "Council of Churches Elects New President". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CIV, no. 226. Tasmania, Australia. 2 December 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  47. ^ "Advertising". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CLXVII, no. 24, 116. Tasmania, Australia. 25 March 1948. p. 12. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  48. ^ "Churches' New President". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. CLXX, no. 24, 642. Tasmania, Australia. 3 December 1949. p. 7. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  49. ^ "Personal". The Advocate (Australia). Tasmania, Australia. 16 March 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 30 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia. note late date of
  50. ^ "New Council of Churches". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CV, no. 41. Tasmania, Australia. 29 April 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 18 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ^ "Council of Churches to Form Regional Groups". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CVI, no. 33. Tasmania, Australia. 21 April 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 18 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  52. ^ "World Council of Churches Meets". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CVII, no. 141. Tasmania, Australia. 24 August 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 18 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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