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The Doncaster Church of Christ commenced on 30th August 1863 when 9 people met at Thomas and Elizabeth Porter’s cottage in Whitten’s Lane Doncaster.(1)
1863 First meeting place of Doncaster Church of Christ: Thomas Porter's house in Whittens Lane, Doncaster (Source: G Chapman)
History
c1910. Main Road Doncaster looking west along showing the Doncaster Primary School, the Church of Christ, and the Doncaster Tower. Photographer: Thiele DP0173
The Doncaster Church of Christ (DCC) began in 1863 with a handful of people meeting together in a pioneer’s home. A year later they moved into a small weatherboard chapel on the present site. In 1889 a brick chapel was opened, which is still there, now functioning as our western foyer! For almost a century, the church faithfully served an agricultural community with orchards spreading out for miles in every direction. But when the urban sprawl hit Doncaster in the mid 1900’s, the church answered the challenge and grew to be one of Victoria’s largest and most dynamic Church of Christ congregations of the era. In the 1990’s, an extensive building program (one of many in the life of the church) provided again for the needs of the growing church.
Source: https://www.doncasterchurch.org.au/about/history/. 2020
History
The church began with the breaking of bread. There were talks beforehand, locations were arranged and agreements were made. But those details do not constitute a church. The Doncaster Church of Christ began at that gathering where the Lord’s Supper was shared among the people. This simple ritual of divine hospitality and connection is at the heart of each Church of Christ. It defines us all: our beginnings and our way of being. It was on Sunday 30th August 1863 that the first people met to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in Thomas and Elizabeth Porter’s cottage. Robert Taylor and James Read were there too, along with sisters Jane and Sarah Lawford. Mary Anne and John Rigby Norris are sometimes listed as being present (according to the ‘Centenary Souvenir’, 1963). Mr JW Webb, from the Church of Christ in Melbourne, presided at the Lord’s Table. And the man who brought them all together was Henry William Crouch. He became the first church secretary. Fifty years later, in 1913, he celebrated the church’s jubilee as a venerable elder. His descendants remain - as do Robert Taylor’s – in a great witness of steadfast faith over 150 years. As well as meeting in the Porter home, the little group ran gospel services in the Baptist chapel with the help of Charles G Lawson from the Church of Christ in Melbourne. A year later they built their own weatherboard chapel in Main Road (Doncaster Road). Another year later, 1865, and membership had expanded to eighty. A Sunday School was established in 1872 and by 1881, having grown as a congregation, they could afford to hire a ‘resident preacher’. Still growing, and with a sense of their ongoing centrality to the community, they built a larger, more substantial brick chapel in 1889. These are the ‘bare bones’ of the pioneer story. But what was it really like in Doncaster in the 1800s? How did the congregation fit within the wider movement of Churches of Christ? What were their worship services like? How did their faith manifest itself in the life of the church?So begins the 150th Anniversary celebration history book, “Doncaster Church of Christ: 150 Years of faith, hope and love” written by Kerrie Handasyde - Churches of Christ Historian.
Source: Extract from. Handasyde, Kerrie. & Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society. 2013, Doncaster Church of Christ : 150 years of faith, hope and love / Kerrie Handasyde Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society Mulgrave, Victoria https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6253536 - as published in https://www.doncasterchurch.org.au/downloads/files/20130804WeeklyThought.pdf 2019
30th Anniversary in 1893 of the Church of Christ, Doncaster (Source: G Chapman)
Doncaster Church of Christ Heritage Impact Statement
Proposed mixed-use tower development at: 674-680 Doncaster Road, Doncaster
Brian Tseng BA (Hons), PHA (Vic & Tas) Trethowan Architecture. May 2020
Permission being sought to republish content.
Source: Download from Manningham
Permission requested to republish complete document on Website (SEP2021).
Historical Information Extract:
Statement of Significance: The following is drawn from the citation for the site and combines the Statement of Significance with a brief history:
The present church replaced a timber chapel, originally built for the Baptists and later moved across the road to the present site in 1863. By 1889 a brick church had been built (memorial stone 19 June 1889), which was designed by Joseph Smith. This and [sic] was extended in 1956-57 creating the present building. Both churches have local significance, spoiled by the offending alterations, and is part of a group with the former Shire Hall and the Doncaster School.
Analysis of Statement of Significance:
The Statement of Significance appears to be based on some inaccurate or confused information. For example, records suggest that Joseph Smith was the architect of the later additions the second church rather than the 1889 brick church. The designer of the 1889 church has not been identified at this time.
The citation's reference to both churches is unclear. One church is clearly the 1889 brick church, the other church is likely to be the 1956 building and the offending alterations refers to the subsequent alterations to both the 1889 church and the wider site. The citation notes that the Doncaster Road boundary fence and the planter in front of the 1889 church are not sympathetic, nor is the rendered panel in place of the original portico.
Our assessment is that the primary source of significance at the site is the 1889 brick church and its role as part of a group with the former Shire Hall and the Doncaster School (Figure 1), with the painted glass panels in the 1956-57 church, by artist Alan Sumner, being of secondary significance.
While it is acknowledged that the 1956-57 sections are sympathetic to the brick church and have some aesthetic value, their value has been undermined by later alterations. It should be noted that while the Heritage Overlay boundary encompasses the entire site, the significant built fabric is limited to the 1889 brick church building at the north of the site forming the interface with Doncaster Road. The later alterations have compromised any architectural or aesthetic significance that may have been attached to the 1956-57 works. The social significance of the site and its ongoing use as a church may not be negatively impacted by re-development of these later works...... Download the complete document from Manningham.
Doncaster Church of Christ : 150 years of faith, hope and love
Handasyde, Kerrie. & Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society. 2013, Doncaster Church of Christ : 150 years of faith, hope and love / Kerrie Handasyde Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society Mulgrave, Victoria https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6253536
Contact office@doncasterchurch.org.au for copies.
Doncaster Church of Christ 120th Anniversary 1862 - 1982 - Bruce Petty
Source: Original donated to DTHS July2023. DN202308051002
Church of Christ [Doncaster] Choir |c1914 (1913 according to Lynton Clay 2022) | Photograph of the Doncaster Church of Christ choir. Back row [from L to R] Arch Crouch, Herb Petty, Frank Smedley senior, Henry Zelius, Thomas Petty. Middle row [L to R] Gertie Tully, Rita Crouch (Alma Miller (Petty) according to Lynton Clay 2022), Ada Tully, Mrs Allan [the wife of the Minister J. E. Allan], Nellie Tully, Vera Petty, Ruby Bullen, Ruby Crouch, Clara Neal. Front row [L to R] Rosa Petty nee Smith wife of Thomas Petty, Rose (Rosina according to Lynton Clay 2022) Tully nee Cook wife of John Tully, Nellie Petty nee Myers wife of George Thompson Petty, George Thompson Petty choir leader, Mrs Smedley, Eliza Witchell nee Smith wife of Henry Witchell, May Hewish nee Crouch | A typewritten list of the people in this photo has also been provided. It is also a computor scan and is signed by "K. Read" possibly Mrs Kathleen Read [a granddaughter of George Thompson Petty and Sarah Ellen his wife] widow of Ken Read now both deceased. DP1113
40th Anniversary of the Church of Christ, Doncaster |1903 | 40th Anniversary photograph of the congregation and friends of the Doncaster Church of Christ assembled in front of the church. In the second front row are Henry William Crouch and Joseph Lowen, 8th and 10th from the right hand end respectively. (Photograph mounted with caption) | Doncaster Churches|Doncaster Church of Christ|Anniversaries|Crouch, Henry William|Lowen, Joseph | Cameron, Rev T. W., 110 Lygon Street Carlton. DP0687
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