Queensland

About the forties in the last century Rev. Dr. John Dunmore Lang, of the Scots Church, Sydney, was concerned that immigrants of sturdy Protestant character should be introduced into Australia, and he concluded an agreement with the government of the day for certain concessions and land grants. Queensland was then a part of New South Wales, and the early Baptists owed much to Dr. Lang’s scheme.

On January 21st, 1849, one of these immigrant ships, the “Fortitude,” arrived in Moreton Bay, and on board was Rev. Charles Stewart, a Baptist minister. The Presbyterians, Congregationalists and Baptists, being too few to form separate congregations, joined to form a “United Evangelical Church,” with Rev. Chas. Stewart as its first minister. This United Church purchased a site running from William-street to George-street, afterwards used by the Government Printing Office, and where the Executive Building now stands. Here they erected a stone and brick building, providing that when the time for separation should arrive, the building should be sold, and the proceeds equally divided between the three denominations. At the end of 1854 Mr. Stewart returned to England, and several persons held very brief pastorates.

On August 5th, 1855, the Baptists resolved to form themselves into a separate church, and invited Rev. Charles Smith to become their first pastor. They met first in the old Police Court, and afterwards in one of the rooms of the old Supreme Court in Queen-street. As a number~ of Congregationalists desired to continue in association with them, the church was formed on the “open” membership basis, but when the Congregationalists formed a separate Church, the basis was changed, on April 20th, 1857, to “close” membership with “open” Communion Mr. Smith left at the end of 1856, and the church appointed one of its foundation members, Mr. R. A. Kingsford, as pastor, he being assisted by Messrs. W. Grimes and W. Moore.

In June, 1857, the church received a visit from Rev. Jas. Voller, of Sydney, who remained for six weeks, infused much enthusiasm into the church, and baptized two brethren, George and James Grimes, members of a family of staunch Baptists who came out in the “Chasely.” This first baptism took place in an open water-way near where the Roma-street Markets now stand. Following the advice of Mr. Voller, the church applied to the Baptist Missionary Society, London, for a pastor, and in response Rev. B. G. Wilson arrived on September 11th, 1858.

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Meanwhile, the building in William-street had been sold for £1500, and the Baptists received their share of about £500. A site was purchased in Wharf-street, and a stone building was erected at a cost of £2050, which was opened on February 6th, 1859. At the opening service, Mr. Wilson baptized twenty candidates. For nearly twenty years Mr. Wilson exercised a very fruitful ministry, but resigned through ill-health in January, 1878, and passed away on February 11th, the same year. He was succeeded on January 19th, 1879 by Rev. Henry Coombs, of Brighton, Victoria.

Ipswich also was indebted to Dr. Lang, for by the “Fortitude” arrived a school teacher, Mr. Samuel Welsby, who settled in Ipswich, and commenced services which led to the formation of a United Baptist and Congregational Church on March 17th, 1853. Its first pastor was Rev. Thomas Deacon, a Baptist minister. A Congregational church was formed in 1854, and according to arrangement, Mr. Deacon retired from the pastorate. In January, 1860, a Baptist church was formed, with Rev. Thomas Deacon as pastor. They met in a bowling alley, until a small church was erected in West-street. The opening services in August, 1860, were marked by the death, the same day, of its honorary pastor, Rev. T. Deacon.

On December 2nd, 1861, a church of the “Strict” Baptist order was formed in Fortitude Valley, Mr. John Kingsford being its honorary pastor. Subsequently he relinquished business for the ministry, and continued pastor of “Jireh” until July 1899, when he was made pastor emeritus. He died on August 4th, 1905.

The Canoona gold rush in 1859 sent many to Central Queensland, and among them two Baptist brothers, C. H. and W. H. Buzacott, who started the first newspaper in Rockhampton. In February, 1862, Rev.

B. G. Wilson paid a visit, services were commenced in Mr. W. H. Buzacott ‘s house, Alma-street, and on June 25th, 1862, a church was formed of seven members, by Rev. J. T. Hinton. A building in Denison street was opened on October 18th, 1864.

Other early churches were Edward-street, Brisbane, 1864, Fortescue street 1865, Petrie Terrace 1870, South Brisbane 1872, Toowoomba, 1875.

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