W.S. James’ book The History of Shepparton 1838-1938 provides an extensive history of Shepparton’s early churches and its people of faith. He writes about the early history of 13 Christian churches, some in great detail, up to 1938.
Today, according to the Greater Shepparton Great Things website for Places of Worship, there are 22 churches operating in Shepparton, and there are probably more.
It states: “Greater Shepparton is home to many places of worship. Historically, Christian churches predominated until the first permanent mosque in Victoria was constructed in Acacia St, Shepparton.
“Now, Shepparton is home to four mosques and one Sikh Temple. With many denominations being celebrated, close to 30 places of worship are available across the Greater Shepparton region.”
I was fascinated to read James’ history of Shepparton’s first church and its humble beginnings at the rear of a blacksmith’s shop (Furphy Foundry) in Wyndham St, and it caused me to reminisce about my beginnings as a Christian in 1983 when I first asked Christ to come into my life at a local church. My life was forever changed, and this church was my nursery (see John Furphy’s statement below) of faith in Jesus for about three months when I was led to another fellowship of believers. They were meeting at a home in Clive St, and the fellowship with these believers further established me as a member of the body of Christ.
In a year or so, this small fellowship also became a local church known as Shepparton Christian Fellowship, in which I have known a deep fellowship with God and His people for 40 years. In 2023, we moved into our first church building on King St. The foundation stone reads, “To the Glory of God. St David’s Kindergarten opened on July 31, 1960. St David’s Hall opened on August 17, 1963.”
FIRST CHURCH — UNITED FREE METHODIST, 1873
The first religious service in Shepparton was the United Free Methodist and was held at the rear of a blacksmith’s shop in a cottage owned by Mr John Furphy in Wyndham St in the year 1873. The site is marked with a tablet in front of Moran and Cato’s shop. This tablet was erected by Mr William Furphy in 1934, when a new frontage was being erected, as a memorial to the historical event over 60 years past.
The church was pioneered from Toolamba, which was an outpost of the Rushworth church. The Rev L. G. Reid was the first minister to conduct a service in Shepparton and, for that matter, the first to preach in the first building erected for church service when he preached at the official opening.
The United Free Methodists erected the first church in the town on Welsford St in 1874. The building still stands at the rear of the flour mill. In front of the building was a signboard on which the name of the church was painted in black letters. The town clerk (Mr West), having received permission from the present owners, had this board removed to the Borough Council Chambers on account of the building falling into decay.
The board will be preserved for historical purposes at the Borough Council offices. Important history is attached to it in that it was painted by Sir John Longstaff when a boy living in Shepparton and attending the church. The lettering stands out in relief and is well preserved, while the wood has decayed away on the surface.
The church was known as Furphy’s Church on account of the great loyalty and interest taken by the Furphy family from its inception. Mr G. V. Furphy, J.P., son of the late John Furphy, states: “The site of this first church in Shepparton was part of a quarter-acre block bought by his father for £50, the block was divided, and a portion of it was donated to the church officials by his father. Other foundation members were Messrs. A. Broad and Rhodda, whose work did much to establish this faith in Shepparton.
It was during the ministry of the Rev L. H. Reid that the church was opened. Though Rev Reid was non-resident in Shepparton he travelled long journeys on horseback to see that regular services were kept up. The first resident minister was Rev J. B. Gribble, who, some years afterwards, became a pioneer missionary to the Aboriginals in West Australia. The Rev Gribble’s writings on the Aboriginals are most authoritative.
In this church, the first baptismal services were conducted the first year it was opened, and the first boy baptised was L. S. Phillips, son of the late Mark Phillips, an esteemed pioneer of the district.
The first girl to be baptised was Violet Jane Furphy (now Mrs Pescott), daughter of the late John Furphy. Mrs Pescott returned to Shepparton in 1923 for the Back-to-Shepparton celebrations and was the oldest living native of Shepparton present on that occasion.
Other ministers who served the church since the Rev Reid’s time were the Reverend Bowes, Hamilton, Bayley, Westacott, Skidmore and Barningham. A family that took a very important part in the worship at this church was the Roe family, the descendants of which are so well known in Methodist circles today.
The church served the district until other denominations came when its membership was depleted. Many who attended were not Free Methodists, some belonging to other Methodist denominations. This naturally made it difficult to carry on with the numbers, leaving for new churches that were later established.
Regarding the uses of the first church building, it was used by other denominations at times. Mr John Furphy, in the course of an address delivered August 1908, stated that “It was the nursery of all the Protestant churches, but they one by one as they became fledged took flight and made homes for themselves.”
(W.S. James’ History of Shepparton 1838-1938)
Over the next few weeks, I will continue with a brief history of the other 12 churches.
Geoff Allemand is an amateur photographer and Lost Shepparton Facebook page admin. Please share your pics of the past at pastpics@mmg.com.au