St Pauls Anglican Church Clyde North (1879)
The date of the first Church of England service has not been recorded and although the first service of a regular ministry was held on Sunday afternoon, September 17, 1865 by Rev. Charles Rupp, the district had been under the care of Rev. Thomas Sergeant, Rev. Whitmore Carr and Rev. Arthur Wyatt from 1863-65. |
A site for the building of a Church was given by the Ridgway family in the 1860's and a building (possibly of wattle and daub was erected in the 1870's, but it was probably more like the early school building) was erected with a brick facade. As early as 1877 a Sunday School was functioning.
Early in 1887 this building was demolished except for the brick porch and facade, and a new building was tendered from plans prepared by Mr. Dalton (of Blackwell and Dalton, Prahran). Mr. William Grieve of Beaconsfield built the wooden Church at a cost of 113 pounds 15 shillings. This Church was known as St. Paul's Jubilee Church and was dedicated and opened on Sunday afternoon, May 1, 1877 by Rev. J.B. Sharp, in the presence of a congregation of 130 people.
The year 1887 was the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne, hence the name of the Church. Both occasions were probably celebrated at the concert in the Public Hall on the following night (Monday). A small vestry was added to St. Paul's Jubilee Church in 1891.
On February 21, 1906 this Church was destroyed by a bush-fire and as a result services were held for ten months in the Public Hall until the new building could be built. Upon additional land given by George Gates, on the north, and by Dan Robinson on the south, a Church was built by J.G. Hollow, to plans designed by J.S. Watts, at a cost of 391 pounds, complete with furniture. (An organ was later purchased for 33 pounds).
This Church was opened on Saturday afternoon, December 15, 1906 and dedicated by Rev. Henry Lowther Clarke, Archbishop of Melbourne. St. Paul's Church, Clyde North was the third Church building to stand on its site. Gifts to St. Paul's Church in 1906 were - Holy Bible and Prayer Book (Mr. H. R. Dumaresq, Kew), Sanctuary Cross (Mr. Lorimer Graham, Diocesan Reader) and Sanctuary chairs (both donated by the single men and women of Clyde).
In the early days, Clyde was represented at parish councils by Messrs.Anthony Ridgway, George Gates and Joseph Jennings. In more recent years Chas.Manks, guardian and vestryman for forty years, represented Clyde. Mr T. A. Twyford had a long association with both Cranbourne and Clyde Churches and was a guardian of St Paul’s Clyde (North) for many years.
During the 1940’s, apart from the usual church services a Sunday School was operating. One teacher was Eric Thomas from the Clyde Methodist Church and Miss Elsie Thomas, was the Sunday School leader during that time.
Older residents will remember the tennis courts on the north side of the church as well as the pony paddock opposite the primary school.In 1999, St Paul's was moved to Beacon Hills College at Pakenham.
Can you help with more recent information about St Paul’s?
 CHURCH BURNT AT CLYDE The diocesan authorities received information yesterday of the total destruction by fire on Wednesday afternoon of St Pauls Church. Clyde, near Cranbourne The minister of the parochial district (Rev A.E.F. Gates) stated that the building was directly in the track of a fierce grass fire, behind which was a strong wind, and not a stick of building was left. The church was insured for £150, but he thought that the organ and new seats were not provided for in the insurance. Argus 1906, 23 Feb, 1906 |
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Sources
1. The Good Country
2. A Clyde History
3. Victorian Heritage Data Base
4. One Hundred Years and More: the story of the founding and development of the parish of
St. John the Evangelist, Cranbourne. 1966