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South Australian Council of Churches

The South Australian Council of Churches was a body of leaders from the evangelical Christian churches of the Australian colony or state of South Australia. It was formed to present a unified front to influence public discourse and government policy, and also served to increase communication and cooperation between rival churches with similar aims and philosophies. This article traces the history of the council through a list of its presidents and, to a lesser extent, its secretaries, who through being eligible for reelection, provided stability and continuity of service.

History

  • 1896 James Viner Smith (died 1916)[1]

Henry James Holden secretary[2]

  • 1898 Robert Smith Casely[3]

James Gray was elected secretary.[4]

Charles Eaton Taplin[a] (1857–1927), secretary 1900–1906

W. Penry Jones elected secretary

James Delehanty (died 1920) was secretary 1908–1917

In 1910 the State Conference of the Churches of Christ, which was not associated with the Council, decided it was in their interest to send delegates to meetings.[9]

Council was reorganised, details yet to find

Port Pirie Council of Churches was founded 1914[13]

1916 the Baptist Union withdrew from the Council of Churches[16]

  • 1917 J. Ernest James

F. W. Norwood appointed secretary Council was reorganised to have four members each from each of Methodist, Presbyterian. Congregation, Baptist, Churches of Christ, Salvation Army, and Society of Friends; two from each to continue in following year.

  • 1918 Donald McNicol[17]

Leslie W. Baker elected secretary

J. E. Cresswell sec. 1919–1922 or later[19]

  • 1920 T. Gettes White
  • 1921 Thomas Hagger (Church of Christ) left for WA[20]
  • 1922 G. Rayner
  • 1923 J. A. Seymour; left for Canada
  • 1923 Corley Butler
  • 1924 T. Vigis
  • 1925 E. M. Hall
  • 1926 J. R. Wilton[21]

F. G. Harvey secretary

  • 1929 A. C. Weber[22]

E. J. Stacy secretary

  • 1932 W. Hawke[b]
  • 1933 S. Carroll Myers
  • 1934 H. R. Taylor[23] He pleaded with airman C. J. Melrose not to make his triumphant return on a Sunday.[24]

B. E. C. Tuck secretary

  • 1936 A. C. Stevens[25]
  • 1937 Gordon Rowe
  • 1938 James Anderson
  • 1941 A. Bungey[26]

Theo Edwards, secretary

  • 1945 C. J. Brimlecombe refrained from criticising use of atomic bomb.[27]
  • 1946 J. E. Shipway

E. H. Woollacott secretary

J. E. Shepherd secretary 1948–1950

  • 1949 E. H. Woollacott[28]
  • 1941 A Bungey[29]
  • 1945 L. J. Schmidt
  • 1950 Brig. F. L. Inglis[30]

See also

Notable delegates not mentioned above

John Raymond Wilton

Notes

  1. ^ C. Eaton Taplin was a son of Rev. George Taplin
  2. ^ Rev. William Hawke (1871–1946) was born at Kapunda, son of William Hawke of Cornish ancestry and educated at Kapunda, Willowie and Prince Alfred College. He was Congregational minister at Bordertown, Medindie, Henley Beach, Salisbury and Glenelg.

References

  1. ^ "Obituaries". The Observer (Adelaide). Vol. LXXIII, no. 5, 594. South Australia. 20 May 1916. p. 33. Retrieved 14 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Second Day". Adelaide Observer. Vol. LIII, no. 2, 868. South Australia. 19 September 1896. p. 14. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Rev. R. S. Casely". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XLIX, no. 14, 698. South Australia. 23 August 1912. p. 4. Retrieved 20 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Council of Churches". The Express And Telegraph. Vol. XXXV, no. 10, 475. South Australia. 23 September 1898. p. 4. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Church Intelligence". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 11, 298. South Australia. 12 June 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Council of Churches". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXX, no. 18, 304. South Australia. 13 July 1905. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Concerning People". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXI, no. 18, 639. South Australia. 9 August 1906. p. 5. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Socialities". Quiz (Adelaide newspaper). Vol. XVIII, no. 1, 018. South Australia. 26 July 1907. p. 6. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Churches of Christ". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LIII, no. 16, 203. South Australia. 21 September 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 25 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Churches and Church Affairs". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXIX, no. 26, 036. South Australia. 7 June 1924. p. 4. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Concerning People". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXVII, no. 20, 491. South Australia. 15 July 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 25 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Church Notes". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LVI, no. 17, 199. South Australia. 29 November 1913. p. 23. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Council of Churches". Port Pirie Recorder and North Western Mail. No. 66. South Australia. 20 June 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Church Intelligence". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LVII, no. 17, 509. South Australia. 26 November 1914. p. 9. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Church Intelligence". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LVIII, no. 17, 822. South Australia. 27 November 1915. p. 18. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Church Notes". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LIX, no. 18, 104. South Australia. 21 October 1916. p. 13. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Council of Churches Welcome". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXIII, no. 22, 480. South Australia. 26 November 1918. p. 5. Retrieved 16 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "About People". The Age. No. 24, 601. Victoria, Australia. 16 February 1934. p. 9. Retrieved 22 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Council of Churches". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXVII, no. 25, 378. South Australia. 29 April 1922. p. 11. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Pastor Hagger". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXVII, no. 25, 382. South Australia. 4 May 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 22 April 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Personal". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 18 June 1926. p. 13. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Council of Churches". The News (Adelaide). Vol. XII, no. 1, 812. South Australia. 7 May 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Council of Churches". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 8 May 1934. p. 11. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "An Airman's Homecoming". The West Australian. Vol. 50, no. 15, 094. Western Australia. 6 November 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 18 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Dismay at War Preparations". The Bunyip. No. 4, 514. South Australia. 5 June 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 15 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Views and Comments". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 24 October 1941. p. 11. Retrieved 14 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Clergy Protest Against Use Of Atomic Bomb". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 33, 582. New South Wales, Australia. 10 August 1945. p. 5. Retrieved 18 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Council of Churches". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 91, no. 28234. South Australia. 5 April 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 16 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "A.I.F. Not to Take Drink on Trains". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 20, 081. Victoria, Australia. 23 September 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 30 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Church 'to probe moral life'". The News (Adelaide). Vol. 54, no. 8, 371. South Australia. 6 June 1950. p. 21. Retrieved 16 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.