A History of  the Stonnington Community Uniting Church

The Stonnington Community Uniting Church is a union of many Churches. The most recent union, in 2015, being that of Ewing Memorial Church and the Serrell Street Uniting Church. Bringing together the churches, has been an emotional and rewarding process. The churches have different histories, different customs and rituals and different aesthetics. Each of the churches has had its own transformations over the decades.  And yet, the congregations have found common ground within their Christian values and faiths.The Stonnington Community Uniting Church is now writing their new history.

Earliest beginnings of Stonnington Community Uniting Church

The Parish has provided Christian service to the community of East Malvern for over 130 years.

While the Parish was formally established in 1891, its origins go back to 1886/8 when Rev. John Ewing, the Presbyterian Minister of the Toorak Church began to visit the area, and to hold services in the homes of several of his parishioners, who had moved to East Malvern, that was then on the outer fringes of the City of Melbourne. In addition to tending to the needs of the members of his flock in the area, John Ewing also extended his ministry to the jockeys, strappers and stable hands at the nearby Caulfield Racecourse; and championed the cause of the Chinese market gardeners in the area.

East Malvern Presbyterian Church

A site on the Waverley Road Hill was purchased and a small wooden church was constructed. This building was opened on the 15th of March, 1891. The small congregation of the new Malvern Presbyterian Church sought approval to name the church “The Ewing Memorial” Church. The request reflected the deep and lasting impression that Rev. John Ewing , had made on the congregation. Approval was given. Having been established, just as the 1890s Depression began the early years of the congregation were difficult, as the circumstances of many of the founders were greatly changed. However, by 1896, conditions had improved to the extent that a new site was obtained on the east side of Burke Road and the original wooden Church building was relocated there in the same year.

 The Congregational Church

In 1890 a Congregational Church was also established in East Malvern, initially meeting in Waverley Road, before moving to 29 Burke Road in 1906. Growth was such that in 1916 a brick Church was constructed. This building is now used by the Malvern Theatre Company. Several of the stained glass windows from the Glenferrie Road Congregational Church are now installed in the Burke Road Church. The records of the East Malvern Congregational Church are held in the La Trobe Library, Melbourne.

The Methodist Church

It was not until 1907 that the Methodist Church established a Parish, East Malvern. However, the response was so great that within a year a site was purchased in Epping Street and the Church was constructed. This was followed by the building of a Sunday School and Kindergarten, which were constructed on the same site. In 1921 a brick church was built on the site adjacent to the other buildings. As a tribute to the men of the congregation who had served in World War 1, it was named Peace Memorial Church. This has now become the Greek Orthodox Church of St Catherine. Several stained glass windows from this church, however, now grace the Parish Centre at Ewing. The full history of the Peace Memorial Methodist Church has been recorded in the book “Epping Street” by W.H.Bossence.

Building the ‘new’ Ewing Memorial (Presbyterian) Church

In 1906, a block of land was purchased on the corner of Burke Road and Coppin Street for the construction of a new Presbyterian Church. Following a period of active fundraising, the decision was taken to construct the present Church. The foundation stone for the Church was laid in July 1910, and the building was completed and opened in March 1911. The old Church continued to serve as a Sunday School until 1939.

During the ministry of Rev. Jollie Smith, the current manse was constructed, on the block of land in Coppin Street adjacent to the Church. The land was donated by a parishioner in 1919 and the manse completed in 1921. It has seen progressive modernisation before the arrival of each subsequent minister.

Ewing Memorial Uniting Church

June 22nd, 1977 marked a major milestone in the history of Ewing Memorial Church, for it was on that date that the formal establishment of the Uniting Church in Australia took place and henceforth Ewing Memorial was to be known as Ewing Memorial Uniting Church. It had been a three-year journey. While some members had chosen to remain with the Presbyterian Church and transferred to other churches, those who came into the Ewing fellowship from both the Congregational and Methodist traditions brought with them considerable skills and strength of leadership that has remained to the present day.

Serrell Street Uniting Centre

The congregation of the Serrell Street Uniting Church, as with many churches, experienced a decline in numbers.  In 2015 Ewing Memorial Church became the custodian of the beautifully modern facilities in Serrell Street, Malvern East. These buildings are now used for ongoing faith and community-focused activities.

Stonnington Community Uniting Church

With the emergence of a more progressive approach to Christianity under the considered guidance of Rev. Greg Crowe and the Church Council  there was more change to come.  Finding a name that embodied more of the true character of the Church was included in the path forward. Stonnington Community Uniting Church came into being in just as the community and all churches were experiencing Covid 19 shutdowns in Melbourne.

The next century?

There have been 120 years of economic Depressions, two World Wars, influenza and poliomyelitis epidemics, great social changes, and demographic shifts. Stonnington Community Uniting Church continues to grow in faith and to extend its Mission to East Malvern and the wider community.

Acknowledgments:

Ian Jenkin  1991 publication “In Search of His Kingdom” from which most of this article is written

BoonWurrung and Wurundjeri people, who have been its custodians of the lands on which we gather, for thousands of years

More about the Facilities at Stonnington Community Uniting Church