Stuart McLean, Presbyterian Church Naracoorte, Naracoorte Community News
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Naracoorte would like to invite the community to attend the induction of the Reverend Rudi Schwartz who is returning with his wife Heila.
Rudi and Heila lived in Naracoorte for many years from 2000 taking an active part in the community as well as the church. On retiring in Bathurst, Rudi has travelled from his home in Bathurst several times a year to assist in our vacancy.
The service will be held on Friday the 13th of September at 2pm and all are welcome to join, with afternoon tea to follow the service.
The Presbytery of South Australia will perform the duties of the induction.
History of the Presbyterian Church in Naracoorte
Early in 1856 an important meeting was held at the Merino Inn (now the Naracoorte Hotel), the only meeting place in town at the time. This was attended by the majority of the land owners and townspeople. The object of the meeting was to establish a ministry in the town and decide which one Presbyterian or Anglican.
The outcome of this meeting was that the Presbyterians secure a minister who was fluent in both English and Gaelic as there was a predominance of people from Scotland in the area. During the first week of November 1856, the Reverend Dugald McCalman was duly inducted and his charge stretched from Robe to Edenhope a distance of 100 miles. He was in this position for 16 years.
The first Presbyterian church was built in 1858 and this is now the Sunday School. After a few years with the influx of population it was decided that the original church had become inadequate so a new larger one was projected.
The present church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian in Church Street Naracoorte is built on land donated by Mr. William McIntosh, who also donated the fine bell, which is in use each Sunday and the foundation stone was laid in the year 1874 by Mrs. John Robertson from Struan. The building was completed in 1875 is Gothic in design with a graceful 90 foot spire which is a landmark many have admired over the years as it can be seen from miles around.
We look forward to members of the community joining us on the 13th September for the induction at 2pm.
This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.
