Wiltunga Church

Wiltunga Uniting Church formerly Methodist and built as Bible Christian, Yorke Peninsula South Australia
Wiltunga Uniting church formerly Methodist and built as Bible Christian.

A plaque close to the church reads:

To Commemorate 100 years of worship at Wiltunga (Fairfield)

1884–1900 Bible Christian Church

1900–1977 Methodist Church

1977–1984 Uniting Church

Unveiled 12th August 1984.

Bible Christian services were first held in August 1884 in Jesse Stevens’ home, some were also held in the home of T G Cosh.

Foundation trustees formed in 1886 intending to build a church. Jesse Stevens donated land for the building in the Hundred of Wiltunga on his “Fairfield” property. It was known as the Fairfield Church.

Mrs James Trengove laid the foundation stone on 8 September 1886 when addresses followed: a public tea and meeting were held.

The building opened 8 November 1886 with services by the Reverend John Dingle. The date of 1884 on the gable commemorates the first services.

Sunday School began in May 1891 with just under 40 pupils.

Adjacent the church a steel framed building was constructed in 1956 for the Sunday School and classes were conducted until 1979.

The church was enlarged in 1900 with the extension of the eastern wall and with the purchase of additional seats - cost £58.

The church remained in the Kulpara Methodist Circuit and became part of the Barunga Range Parish with the formation of the Uniting Church in 1977.

In the now abandoned church building there is painted on the walls a Roll of Foundation Trustees and a World War One Roll of Honour.

[Ref: Yorke Peninsula Heritage Survey 1997 - Yorke’s Peninsula Advertiser 21-9-1886 foundation stone]

Bible Christian Conference – Chapel Report

During the year new Chapels had been opened at Wiltunga and Clinton at a cost of £293, two-thirds of which sum had been raised. [Ref: Observer 5-3-1887]

The anniversary of the Wiltunga Bible Christian Church was celebrated on 15th and 16th July. On Monday evening the Reverend W F James delivered his lecture on President Garfield. [Ref: Christian Colonist 27-7-1888]

The late James Trengove took up land in the Hundred of Wiltunga in 1882 and remained there until his death. He was a member of the Bible Christian Church. He was also a local preacher, teacher and superintendent of the Sunday School and trustee of the church property. One of his last acts was to donate the sum of £5 in aid of the extension of the West Coast Methodist Church. His house was a home for ministers of the circuit. [Ref: Kadina and Wallaroo Times 22-9-1909]

On Sunday 12 November a thanksgiving service was held in the Wiltunga Church in honour of the late Mark Stevens. His only surviving brother Jesse Stevens was able to be present.

The following tribute was given by James Trengove junior on behalf of the trustees of the Wiltunga Church: “Shortly after the arrival in the district and of Mark and his brother Jesse their home, when built, was thrown open to the Bible Christian Church for worship. There were no buildings in Bute, and the Primitive Methodists were holding services in farm houses. The room from which the remains of Mr Stevens was taken for interment was the room in which the first services were held. About 1890 he became a society steward of the Wiltunga Church. This office he held continuously for nearly fifty years. He was a generous giver to the church and kindred institutions”. [Ref: Australian Christian Commonwealth 24-11-1939]