A strong congregation attended the last service at the Cohuna Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon. 71 people from across the district and further afield came to celebrate 63 years of Christian faith and fellowship and see the doors close for the last time.

Low numbers and an inability to maintain financial viability saw the decision to close the church. The four remaining members were joined by past parishioners and members of other local churches to remember and celebrate the church’s history and role in the community.

Baptists have practiced in the area from the 1800s when roving preachers held services across the district. The current Cohuna Baptist Church was consecrated in 1958 and opened on October 31, 1959, with Gwen Angel opening the doors. 

“It is a sad day, a poignant day. But it is one to be celebrated, not grieved,” Mark Wilkinson of the Baptist Union of Victoria told the congregation in his thanksgiving prayer. 

“This region has a higher percentage of Baptists than any other in Victoria. We’re closing an organisation, we’re not closing a church – the Church of Jesus Christ,” he said.

One of the remaining parishioners, Leiza Webb Mathers, said, “As heartbreaking as it was to close, four people can’t financially maintain the building. It’s very hard to put together a team when there’s only four, and two of you are elderly. That’s where I found it really tricky. That’s what I found really frustrating.”

Ken Dodd was another parishioner who, along with Leiza had been trying to keep the church open by running the services themselves. The two others were Shirley Copland, whose husband Graeme was a pastor for over 15 years, and Theresa Robinson. Harry Monro from Echuca, travelled fortnightly to provide Lay Ministry and music.

Ken said he felt comfortable at the church that God had led him to, and while he is disappointed at its closing, is content to see where God takes him now. 

Bev Smith, who attended the church from 1992-2001 travelled to Cohuna for the last service and recalled her time at the church. “It was a good place to come when you felt lost, when you didn’t have family around,” she said. “They embraced you, helped you to grow, work through difficulties in life, put your feet on solid ground and prepared you for wherever life took you.”

The service was led by Ken Dodd with Bruce Stewart leading the message and Mark Wilkinson doing the thanksgiving prayer.

An afternoon tea followed the service, enabling parishioners to catch up and share stories of their time with the church. 

“It was beautiful to see some of the original people come back that have been part of the building. It was nice to see them come back and honour that,” said Leiza.

While the doors to the church are now permanently closed, members of the church will maintain their connection with the Gannawarra Toy Run and the community work that happens across the shire.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 17 August 2023.