Click here to download the Auburn Uniting Church Heritage Interpretative Brochure
 

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The Congregation now known as Auburn Uniting Church began life as a Wesleyan Methodist preaching place in 1853, when the first service was held under a gum tree near the corner of Auburn and Riversdale Roads. The illustration shows artist Roy Brisbane's imagined impression of the scene.

The present suite of buildings reflects many of the ideals and vigour of 19th century Methodism.

The “people called Methodists” are a family of churches within the World Methodist Council.  Originating in the work of John Wesley (1703 – 1791) and his brother Charles (1708 – 1788) to renew the Church of England, to spread abroad scriptural holiness and social righteousness, Methodism quickly became a world-wide movement.  The various strands of Methodism in Australia and New Zealand united to form the Methodist Church of Australasia in 1902, shortly after the Federation of the six colonies.

Methodists seek to confess, to interpret and to live the Apostolic faith.  They rejoice in the loving purposes of the Almighty God in creation, redemption and consummation, offered through the centrality of grace available to all in Jesus Christ.  They are “friends of all, the enemies of none”.

Methodism was born in song and inherits the rich treasury of the Wesleys’ hymns and Christian musical traditions.  The prominence given to the organ and choir in the design of our church are a reflection of this tradition.

The Congregational Church in Australia traces its history back even further.  Click here for details of the founding and history of the Congregational movement in England and North America.

The Presbyterian Church in Australia was fostered by the strong Scottish presence in the early colonies. Click here for the Presbyterian Church of Australia website.

The Congregational Church, the Methodist Church and the more liberal congregations of the Presbyterian Church united in 1977 to form the Uniting Church in Australia.  For some congregations, this simply amounted to a change of name; for others, extensive and painful mergers, amalgamations, breakaways and re-formations followed over the next 25 years. 

In the Hawthorn area of Melbourne, two existing Methodist congregations, and one Congregational, merged to form the new UCA Parish of Hawthorn, with services continuing to be held in each place.  Eventually, the former  Congregational members left to form their own Uniting Church congregation of Augustine, and the former Denham Street (West Hawthorn) preaching place closed, leaving Auburn as the sole congregation of the Parish of Hawthorn.

Through word, deed and sign, Auburn Uniting Church continues the evangelical practices of the former Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian churches within the Uniting Church in Australia.  Clear and untainted preaching of the Word, the faithful celebration of the Gospel Sacraments and a talented ministry of praise continue in weekly worship.  The congregation witnesses to God’s reign among us now, as proclaimed by Jesus Christ, and looks forward to the coming Kingdom when every form of evil will be destroyed.

The Buildings now known as the Auburn Uniting Church complex were built in 1888-91 to the design of Alfred Dunn (born Devon, England, 1865; died Kew, Victoria, 1894) in the American Romanesque style.  Their unique qualities have been recognised by the National Trust (classified 1987); Heritage Victoria (added to the Heritage Register 2003); and by the Australian Heritage Commission (placed on the Interim Register of the National Estate 2003).  The complex is unique in that all buildings were built by the same builder, in the same style, designed by the same architect, within a space of only two or three years – a remarkable achievement for a single congregation when Melbourne itself was less than 60 years old.

The main building in the complex is, of course, the Church, occupying the corner of Oxley Road and Hepburn Street, its 30m high tower visible for miles around. (Curiously, the tower, while resembling a Venetian campanile, has no bells, as the Wesleyans did not believe in ringing bells to summon the faithful to prayer.)  The observation deck, some 15m above ground level, provides an excellent view of the city skyline and surrounding suburbs, and is open to the public from time to time. 

The Church is in the Methodist auditorium style, with no internal columns to obscure the view, and the pews arranged in amphitheatre style to allow every member of the congregation to both see and hear the preacher and the organ and choir. Apart from its encouragement of fine praise and preaching as part of church life, its superb acoustics attract many musical groups to give concerts in the auditorium.

The Hall was built in the Methodist Model Sunday School style, with a series of classrooms radiating from a central superintendent’s desk.  It has since been modified, with the provision of a stage, a kitchen and smaller offices, but evidence of the original plan may still be seen.  The Hall is well used during the week as a meeting place for many community musical and social groups. The Eileen Pawsey Room (formerly known as the Parlour) was renovated and dedicated in 2004 to the memory of Eileen Pawsey (nee Whitehead), a former parishioner and benefactor of the Church. It is available for meetings and musical activities.

The other building on the Oxley Road frontage is the Manse, sometimes known as the Parsonage.  This has been the home of the Minister and his family for most of the past 115 years.  Although it has lost its two-storey verandah, it remains largely intact, its six bedrooms a reminder of the time when families were large and servants ubiquitous.

The former caretaker’s cottage in Hepburn Street, while lacking the grand scale of the Manse, nevertheless has a certain rustic charm, currently awaiting restoration and rejuvenation of its kitchen and bathroom facilities.

The former stables and coach house now serve as garages and storage facilities.