Our Beginnings
Part 1 in the History of Gordon Uniting Church
As we move also into the Centenary Year of our Church, we feel the need to document our history.
In April 1903 a Methodist Church, as seen here, was opened on the site of our present church buildings to create both a place of worship and a centre in the scattered community, where those of the Methodist tradition could come together as a supporting Church Family.
The area was not as we know it to-day - in fact the Pacific Highway was still a dirt road. There were no cars, and travel was not easy.
The foundation stone for this church was laid in December 1902 by Mrs R S Callaghan - a member of a family which played a significant part in our church life over many years.
I can remember that there was a Sunday School Prize donated and presented each year by Mrs Callagham! I envied those clever enough and sufficiently dedicated to receive the prize. I never made it. But what quiet caring and on-going interest Mrs Callaghan showed by encouraging the young people of the Sunday School to strive for their best.
When the Church was first opened it had no large organ or stained glass windows - these came later as memorials to various members of the Church Family.
You can still see 2 of these windows today! They were carefully removed at the time of the demolition of the church and are preserved in the hallway leading from the Church to the Highway Centre.
Flowers for special occasions have always been a part of our Church tradition, and dedicated folk, down through its history have used their ingenuity and talents to beautify the Church and express their care and commitment in this way. The 1920 photo shows the floral arrangement for the Sutton - Callaghan wedding. If you look closely, you may see a bell at the top of the photo. This was filled with rose petals and, at the appropriate moment, the bridesmaids would pull the attached cords and release the petals over the bride and groom.
The third photo shows snippets from the Church's accounts book of 1908! How values have changed! These of course 
were very much pre-decimal currency - when there were 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound. But they are nevertheless early examples of meticulous accounts kept by various Church Treasurers over the past 100 years!
We thank God for the vision of the folk who established our Church here in 1903.
They worked hard for what they believed was important for the young community and passed on to future generations a tradition of caring and concern that we have the privilege of continuing one hundred years on!
. . . Jane Sanders