Union Church (Australia)

In Australia, a Union Church is a church building owned and maintained by a local trust and available to multiple denominations.

Such churches were once common in rural areas.[1] Some were available to all denominations and even to other religions, others specified particular beliefs, such as the Nicene Creed. A few still exist and are in regular use.

Existing Union Churches

New South Wales

Caloola Union Church

In Caloola, New South Wales, this is still maintained by a Trust, and has a historic cemetery. [2] [3] It opened and was dedicated in 1865.

As of 2020, four interdenomenational Sunday services are conducted each year, with clergy from several denominations attending each.

Purga Unite

Meroo Union Church

Mangrove Mountain Union Church

Queensland

In Queensland, union churches are often titled using words such as "non-denominational", "undenominational", "united" and "community".

• Caboonbah Undenominational Church
• Purga United Church
• United Welsh Church, Blackstone
• Community church, Mount Mee
• Hemmant Christian Community Church
• Ravenswood Community Church

Historic Union Churches

Renmark West Union Church

Made from the union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches. The Church began operating in June 1918 in the Renmark West School with Rev. E. W. Sanders (Methodist) and Rev. A. E. Francis (Congregational) and built their own Church on donated land, starting on November 6th 1919 and opened on October 31st, 1920. The Church continues operating today under the Uniting Church of Australia and celebrated its Centenary in November 2019. Services are conducted by the Renmark/Loxton resident Minister every Sunday at 8:30am.

References

1. "History | Mangrove Mountain Union Church". mmuchurch.org.au. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
2. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2573497/caloola-union-church-cemetery
3. https://billiongraves.com/cemetery/Caloola-Union-Churchyard/153110