Former Free Presbyterian Church

The former Free Presbyterian Church is located at 4450 Midland Highway, Meredith. The Free Presbyterians, the small Gaelic speaking branch of the denomination, erected the simple bluestone kirk in 1868. It was constructed by Brown and Pile at a cost of £600. William James Reid of Woodbourne laid the foundation stone in 1869. In the late 19th century,two factors led to the closure of the church. Thefirst being a decline in local support for the Free Presbyterian denomination. The second, the financial pressure following the withdrawl of State Govenment aid, which saw the disposition of the land under the State Aid to Religion Abolition Act of 1871.The kirk remained unoccupied until it was leased to the Hopetoun Masonic Lodge No 163 in 1910. The chapter had previously moved from Morwell to Steigtliz in 1894, renting the Steigtliz Court House before moving to Meredith. By 1911 the name of the lodge was changed to Meredith Masonic Lodge No 163, with William Garfield Spiller of Lethbridge as Master. In 1961, as part of Centennial celebrations, the Temple was reconsecrated by Most Worshipful Brother John W. Connell. Despite efforts to secure the freehold ownership from the Presbyterian Church, it was not until 1961 that the Lodge acquired the site, constructing a new Temple adjacent to the north of the bluestone chapel.

How is it Significant?

The former Free Presbyterian Church is of historical, social and architectural significance to the Golden Plains Shire and the township of Meredith.

Why is it Significant?

The former Free Presbyterian Church is of historical significance for its role in providing the first permanent place of worship for the district's Free Presbyterians, the small Gaelic-speaking branch of the denomination, in 1868.

It also has further historical significance as providing a site for the Hopetoun Masonic Lodge No. 163 after the decline of the Steigltiz mining township in the late 19th century and later as a permanent temple for the Meredith Masonic Lodge No. 163.

The former Free Presbyterian Church has social significance as a representation of the collective aspirations of the local congregation of the Free Presbyterians, to establish a place of worship outside the larger Presbyterian denomination.

The former Free Presbyterian Church has architectural significance as a surviving bluestone kirk in the Gothic Revival style, dating from the early settlement of the Meredith township.

Group

Community Facilities

Category

Hall Masonic