Tasmania

The honour of the formation of the second Baptist Church in Australia belongs to Tasmania. Rev. Henry Dowling, a Strict Baptist minister, arrived in Hobart on December 2nd, 1834. He preached in the Independent Chapel, and in February, 1835, proceeded to Launceston, where he took up his residence. There he preached in the Court House, and a church of the Particular and Strict order was formed. On July 30th, 1836, a grant of land was obtained for a building in Launceston, but this was sold and another site, in York-street, was purchased, on which the first Baptist church building was erected.

From Launceston, Mr. Dowling made itinerating journeys throughout the island, and on June 14th, 1835, a church was formed in Hobart, in the house of Mr. W. J. Ware. This, with the gathering at Launceston, combined to form “The Particular Baptist Society of Van Die-man’s Land,” of which Rev. Henry Dowling became secretary. In October, 1840, the church at Hobart was formed as a distinct church, with Rev. W. R. Wade (?) as stated pastor. The minute-book of the Launceston Church states that this led to the dissolution of the Society, and the formation of the church at Launceston on December 27th, 1840. The entry seems rather vague at this distance of time, but apparently it was mainly a change of name—the society ceased, and they became separate Baptist churches. On June 18, 1839, land in Harrington-street, Hobart, was purchased, and the second building was erected in 1840. In old age, Rev. Henry Dowling retired from the active pastorate, in April, 1867, and died on March 29th, 1869, having been pastor of the Launceston Church for 34 years.

In 1846, Rev. John Saunders, pastor of Bathurst-street Church, Sydney, paid a visit to Hobart, and upon his recommendation, Rev. S. Hewlett, then of Wollongong, N.S.W., proceeded to Hobart as pastor of the church there. Very little progress was made by the Baptists in Tasmania for a number of years, but a considerable impetus was given to the Baptist cause by visits of Rev. Thomas Spurgeon in 1878 and 1880. The chief factor in the growth of the denomination, from about that date, was the active interest and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. William Gibson, of Native Point, Perth. Their son, Mr. William Gibson, of Scone, Perth, splendidly seconded their generous interest. A Sustentation Fund was established by a gift of £11,000, and they built, or largely contributed to the building of numerous churches and manse properties. It has been stated that the benefactions of the Gibson family to the Baptist cause in Tasmania approximates a total of £70,000.

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