Our Church - God's work over 150 years

Our church, Geelong Reformed Presbyterian Church, is celebrating 150 years. I put up some info on the site about it.

Here is the journal of past events leading up to the church being established.


Sunday 27th December, 1857

When Rev. Alexander Mcllwaine Moore and his wife Anna arrived by ship in Melbourne on Wednesday 23rd December, 1857 there was no one to greet them at the Hobson's Bay docks. So, a day was spent contacting some famalies who had belonged to the Reformed Presbyterian Churches in Ireland and Scotland before settling in Australia. Only one family was contacted and so A. M. Moore decided to move to Geelong where, to quote his own words, he "knew there were men of the right stamp". He arrived in Geelong via train on Saturday 26th December, 1857. Without wasting a second A.M. Moore 'met a few friends for prayer' on Sunday 27th December, 1857.


Sunday January 3rd, 1858

A.M. Moore preached from the lounge room of Mr. John Wright who was a timber merchant in Geelong. The number present did not exceed a dozen. The subject of his address was the Parable of the Mustard Seed.


Sunday January 10th, 1858

A.M. Moore preached from the pulpit of the Free Church, of which Rev. John Tait was minister. From the research of Mrs. Gladys Seaton, this church was located in Little Malop St. probably between Yarra and Bellarine Streets. The next day (Monday 11th January 1858) a meeting was held of those interested in the establishment of a Reformed Presbyterian Church in Geelong. The meeting consisted of 12 persons, heads of families, and was most cordial in support of the development of a church.


Sunday June 22nd, 1858

The first congregational meeting was held when a committee of management was appointed. The Church was now organised and the members decided to pay their minister a salary of £250 per year.