Newland Memorial Church celebrates 175 years

of Ministry and Service

by Wayne Colebatch

175 years ago, the then Tabernacle Church in Encounter Bay was opened for worship, over 5 years later the Rev Ridgway Newland arrived in the area from England. He became a significant figure in local history and was the first chair of the Victor Harbor Council.

The Newland Memorial Uniting Church (then Congregational) history began in 1839 when Newland settled at Encounter Bay, a then small whaling settlement (or Yilki, as it was known to the Indigenous population). In 1846, a small chapel was built in Tabernacle Road, Encounter Bay. Due to the rapid development in Victor Harbor at that time, a new church was opened on Victoria Street in 1869 and with greater expansion in the 1920s, the present adjacent church with increased seating capacity was opened in 1927. This present-day iconic church with its unique and renowned crescent shaped architecture has an outstanding acoustic and a fine pipe organ. On 18th April 2021 the 175th anniversary celebration commenced with a brief service at the original Tabernacle Road site involving a ‘smoking’ ceremony by local Cedric Varcoe, a representative of the Ramindjeri/Ngarrindjeri nations, acknowledging and respecting the original inhabitants of this land.

The Thanksgiving service that followed at the present Newland Memorial Church

was well attended and conducted by Rev Dr Adrian Brown and Rev Sue Ellis. Greetings were brought from the visiting National President of the Uniting Church Dr Deidre Palmer, the State Moderator Bronte Wilson with contributions from Rev Anne Butler (Port Elliot) and local congregation members Geoffrey Penhall, Graham Carter and Kaye Doig. Representatives from the Victor Harbor Council were present along with many visiting invited guests. A celebratory lunch followed at the Crown Hotel.

Photos provided by Geoffrey and Mary Bishop Top: Moderator Bronte Wilson, Dr Deidre Palmer, Rev Sue Ellis, Rev Dr Adrian Brown and Geoffrey Penhall Newland Memorial Uniting Church Bottom: Cedric Varcoe