The Congregation's History

Regular services began in February 1853 in a 10' x 12' tent in Carpenter Street, Brighton led by the Rev. Henry Kidgell having recently arrived from Brighton, England. A small wooden chapel was erected and opened in November of that year.

In 1857 a 1½ acre block in Black Street was purchased and the "erection of a new and commodious wooden chapel, seating 270 persons, was completed in October at a cost of £800."

In the Jubilee edition of 'Church News' in 1903 there is much detail of the activities of the Congregation.

"In June 1869 it was decided to improve the church grounds, and a donation of trees was obtained from Dr. Von Mueller from the Botanical Gardens." The Moreton Bay Fig tree which was planted then is now a very substantial tree and is protected by a heritage protection order.

In 1874 plans were prepared for the erection of "a larger and more substantial edifice of brick, which besides meeting the requirements of the congregation, would be an ornament to Brighton." Its erection at a cost of £2826.17.0 was completed in December 1875. It is certainly acknowledged that the vision for the building to be an ornament in Brighton has been fulfilled and this assessment remains valid today. The wooden church was moved to another place on the site for use as the Sunday School Hall.

The Jubilee celebrations in 1903 were extensive and involved many different events and people.

While attracting and retaining Ministers had been a constant issue the pastorates of Rev. James Rickard (22 years) and Rev. George Gunson (34 years) stand out not just for their length but also the quality of their ministry.

In 1935 considerable alterations were made to the inside of the Church. The seating arrangement was altered, choir stalls built, and electric light and heating installed.

In the latter part of Mr Gunson's ministry, services were broadcast on radio station 3DB via a special telephone line into the vestry. Broadcasts were also given via the ABC and 3XY and later even via the new medium of television.

Numbers of members of the Black Street congregation both Ministers and lay people have been prominent in the work of the Congregational Union of Victoria including being its President.

Church Union

In 1977 the Congregational Church entered into union with the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches due to the similarity of their theological beliefs and a new age was entered.

The actual meeting of the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand which determined to enter into union was taken in the Black Street Church! In fact the Chair of that meeting was a local member, Mrs Dora Plumb. And so the the flame of Congregationalism, while not being extinguished, has been passed on to the Uniting Church in Australia.

At the time of union a variety of congregations of the Uniting Churches came together as the new Parish of Brighton. These included the Presbyterian congregations of John Knox in Gardenvale and St. Leonard's in Brighton Beach and the Methodist congregations of New Street and Male Street which all joined the Black Street congregation.

This new Parish at the beginning had four Ministers and six active congregations. In the years since various changes have taken place. In 1981 the St. Leonard's Congregation decided to become a single stand alone congregation. During 1981 the number of Ministers was reduced to two. In 1990 the decision was taken to close the Were Street Congregation.

In the middle of 1991 extensive renovations were carried out on the Black Street church and its new name of Trinity was chosen. The Black Street congregation had been worshipping at New Street and after the refurbishment at the end of 1991 New Street was also closed. Black Street was re-dedicated and renamed on 9th February, 1992. One of the two Ministers in 1991 retired early, the other received a call to another parish and in early 1992 the parish consisted of two congregations and one Minister, the Rev. Ross Carter, who had newly arrived.

In 2003 the decision to close the John Knox congregation was also taken and the property is being sub-divided so that it may be sold. And so the members at Trinity now comprise people from all the previously named congregations. Each amalgamation has occurred with no little heartache as treasured churches were closed.

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