South Australia.

On February 14th, 1837, there arrived in Adelaide Mr. and Mrs. W. Finlayson, the first Baptists to settle in South Australia. Shortly afterwards they were joined by Mr. David Maclaren, who held the position of manager of the South Australian Company. On Sunday mornings they met in Mr. Finlayson ‘s house for reading of the Word and prayer. Other Baptists arrived during the year and found a temporary home in the Congregational Church.

The following year they deemed themselves numerous enough to form a congregation, and in July, 1838, in the house of Mr. Finlayson, Rundle-street, they formed themselves into a Baptist Church with a membership of thirteen. For a few weeks they met in various houses, but on September 2nd, 1838, they commenced services in a wooden building on Park Lands, opposite Trinity Church. This building was then in use as a schoolroom, but previously had been used as the banking office of the South Australian Company.

The opening service was conducted by Mr. Maclaren, who was the father of Dr. Alexander Maclaren, of Manchester. Mr. John Peacock, who had been a Baptist College student in England, assisted in carrying on the services, Mr. Maclaren consenting to preside at meetings, but declining an invitation to the pastorate. On July 7th, 1839, they removed to a church in Hindley-street, vacated by the Wesleyans. This building, like the former, was on the land of the South Australian Co., and was purchased by the Baptists for £600. They also purchased a site in Gouger-street for Sunday School purposes.

In January, 1841, Mr. Maclaren, who had been a great strength to the church, left the colony, and the church passed through some sore vicissitudes, some of its members joined the Congregational Church, some were dismissed to form a church at Noarlunga, and the remnant felt themselves unable to undertake the responsibility of the debt, and removed to a schoolroom in Light Square.

Late in 1841, or early in 1842, Rev. Isaac Prior arrived, and took over a school in Angas-street. The Church removed into it, and continued there during 1842 and 1843. Mr. Prior then left for the country, and the church removed to Morphett-street, where Captain Scott, who seems to have been the chief means of keeping the church together, Mr. Thomas Neill, and others officiated until they were able to build a chapel in Franklin-street, which was opened on January 4th, 1846.

Meanwhile a distinct movement had been started in North Adelaide, the church being ministered to by Mr. James Allen from 1842 to 1846,

when Mr. Allen went to England. On his return he was again called to the pastorate, which he held until 1855. Mr. George Prince accepted the pastorate in January, 1856, and during his ministry a new place of worship was built in front of the old one. It retained the name of “Ebenezer,” but the entrance was from Broughton-place In 1866 Mr. Prior went to England, and for a few years the church had a struggle for existence until in 1870 they asked the Tynte-street Church to take charge of the property, becoming responsible for the debt.

Mr. 0. F. Angas, afterwards the Hon. 0. F. Angas, M.L.C., manifested a keen interest in the religious life of the Colony, and under his auspices Rev. George Stonehouse arrived at Port Adelaide, on November 28th, 1845. Towards the close of 1847 he received and declined a call to “Ebenezer,’ but some of its members withdrew and resolved to start afresh under Mr. Stonehouse ‘s ministry. For a time they met in a small chapel in Kermode-street, vacated by the Wesleyans. Here a church was formed on May 8th, 1848. A new building was erected in Lefevre Terrace, and opened on April 20th, 1850. Mr. Stonehouse resigned in January, 1869, and was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Parsons, and in November, 1870, a new and more spacious building was opened in Tynte-street, which became the principal church in that district and known as the North Adelaide Baptist Church.

A church was formed at Gumeracha in 1858, of which Rev. J. P. Butterfield was the first pastor. Mr. Angas built a chapel at Angaston in 1844, but a church was not formed until August 19th, 1849. This was upon “union’s lines, its first pastor being Rev~. James Cawle, who belonged to the Methodist New Connexion. At Alberton a church was formed on October 6th, 1862, and a building erected which was opened on January 7th, 1864.

The most powerful factor in the denominational life of South Australia was the arrival of Rev. Silas Mead, M.A., LL.B., on July 13th, 1861. This was the outcome of negotiations with Dr. Angus, of Regent’s Park College, and was made possible by the generosity of Mr. G. F. Angas.

Upon Mr. Mead ‘s arrival, services were commenced in White’s Rooms, in which the congregation met for two years. On August 5th, 1861, a church of 26 members was formed, IRev. George Stonehouse, of Lefevre Terrace Church officiating. The foundation stone of the Flinders-street Church was laid on December 18th, 1861, and the new building was opened on April 24th, 1862. To this church Rev. Silas Mead ministered for 34 years, an unselfish, gracious, enthusiastic ministry, which powerfully affected the whole of the denominational life of South Australia.

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