GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, WELLINGTON STREET

GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

 After her husband's death Henry Reed's widow, Margaret built the larger church on the Wellington Street site next door to Parr's hotel, as a memorial to her husband, and to ensure his evangelical work in the community continued.

The foundation stone of the Gateway Baptist Church was laid on 20 July 1883. A bible, placed in a copper cylinder was buried underneath. The architect was Frank Tyson, and the building contractor John Todd Farmilo. Walter Hiddlestone came from Melbourne after Henry reed's death and was pastor at the time of the opening of the new church, in July 1885.

An article published in 1929, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the mission, claimed that prior to the first world war, as many as 1400 people attended services. Whilst such large congregations rarely assemble today, regular services are still held at the church, which continues to address the needs of the local Launceston community within a modern multicultural world, and Henry Reed's legacy remains alive.

Thanks again to Lee for the brilliant picture of the church in its early days.

HISTORIC VIEW OF WELLINGTON STREET

THE CHRISTIAN MISSION CHURCH - 22 WELLINGTON STREET

BAPTIST CHURCH HALL, WELLINGTON STREET

Henry Reed, an early free settler, whaler, merchant and businessman, was a keen evangelist. (See the entry re: Macquarie House see last week's post) about the health of his horses and used his stables in town, however the story of how the discussion began regarding his buying his Wellington Street hotel involves one of his horses, being exercised by one of his grooms near Reed's house at Mt Pleasant (Prospect), which was spooked by a pig, and bolted, all the way to town. When it was brought under control, it was stabled at Parr's, and it was whilst Henry Reed was retrieving the animal, that the conversation leading to his purchase of the buildings including a skittle alley which adjoined the hotel ( a common addition to hotels of the time), is said to have taken place.

Initial mission work, beginning in 1876, was conducted from the skittle alley (which was described in one account as “an old shed”), but when this proved too small, plans were made to construct the Christian Mission Church, which is currently used as the Baptist hall, on the site. Whilst the church was being built, the stables (see last week's post) were refurbished and used for worship. 

The building had facilities for Sunday School upstairs and a large kitchen for practical ministry to the needs of the poor.  The main chapel was of similar design to a room in Henry Reed's home at Mt Pleasant.  It was opened on June 6th 1880, a few months before his death in October of that year.

 It was not long, however, before even the new church (which could seat 300), despite the addition of an outdoor pavilion, proved too small, for the needs of the growing church and plans were made for a larger building.

Note: Despite the interesting light and shadows, this is a fairly average photo – I'll try to replace it with a better one at some stage in the not too distant future.