Church services were held at Koppin Yarratt for years before the original church was built in 1901. There is also mention in the Manning River Times back in April 1898 of the Band of Hope holding monthly meetings on a Wednesday evening.
Original Church opened in 1901
The original church was opened on 28 February 1901 with a tea meeting in the afternoon following by a meeting in the church after tea. About 150 people attended the tea meeting which was followed by outdoor games for the young people. The original cost of the church building was £38 0s 8d and was built by Mr Unicomb who also presented the church with a beautiful rostrum. A newspaper article appeared in the MR Times on 2 March 1901.
BAND OF HOPE PICNIC 1910
Back Row: Stan Drury, Bardy Mills, Jack Minett, May McDonald, Henry Minett, Mrs Naomi (known as Essie) McDonald, Mrs Whatson, Mrs Louisa McDonald, Fred Whatson, Duncan McAlpin
Middle Row: Andrew McAlpin, Alma Halliday, Millie McAlpin, Evelyn Bignell, Nellie Gilbert, Laura Drury, Alf Drury, Connie Richards, May Minett, Jessie McDonald, Ambrose Bryan, Rod McDonald
Front Row: Ben Miller, Ethleen Unicomb, Sophie Unicomb, Kate Miller, Elvie McAlpin, Essie McAlpin, Lindsay Minett (child), Caroline Unicomb, Sophie McAlpin, Essie McDonald, Annie McAlpin
Each year the Methodist Ladies’ Church Aid Society would stage a concert either in the local church or at the Upper Lansdowne Memorial Hall. There would be musical items, singing and recitations. After supper, competitions including quoits and throwing the ball in the bucket would take place outside.
46th Anniversary celebrated in 1947
On 16 February 1947, the Trustees together with the Ladies Church Aid organised an old time tea meeting and a sacred community night to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the church. A financial statement for the new church appeal was given which showed that the officers were now in a position to go ahead with the erection of a new building.
New Church opened in 1948
The new Methodist Church was officially opened at Koppin Yarratt on 2 October 1948 by Mr Les Jordan, MLA. Mr T A Drury was given the key to open the new church. The gifts dedicated were the beautiful memorial pulpit placed in memory of the late Mr J R McDonald by the Trustees and the congregation and the communion table given by Mrs McDonald and family. The baptismal font was a gift from the family of the late Mr and Mrs D McAlpin and the palm stand by the wife and family of the late Mr A G McKay. The hymn board was given by the Sunday School.
Prior to the opening, luncheon was served, and it is estimated that 250 people met for this occasion.
The church was designed by Mr C J Mathers of Cundletown and built under the supervision of Andrew and Clarrie Drury with voluntary labour. The pulpit, communion table and palm stand were the work of Mr H S Emerton of Jones Island. The timber for the building was logged from Thomas and Selina Drury’s property at Central Lansdowne.
A full report of the opening appeared in the MR Times on 16 October 1948.
Andrew G Drury, Neville Barlin, Roddy McDonald, Rev Frank Payton, Rev Lyth, Thomas A Drury, Les Jordan MLA, Charles Barlin, Clarrie Drury
Congregation at opening service
The old church building can still be seen in the background of this photograph.
About 1980 the church building was sold. The new owners turned the building around on the block and renovated it into a family home. At the time of writing this article, the church is still used as a family home.
Compiled by Gloria Crittenden – February 2021 (Photos supplied by Glenda (Drury) Dutton)