St Luke's

St Luke’s is the second oldest Presbyterian church in Australia still in use. For many years the Presbyterian church was shared with the Anglican Church.

The government made an offer to the Bothwell settlers through Captain Williams on 23rd October 1829, it was as follows:

If the settlers will find cartage promptly and readily, so that there may be no delay in drawing all materials, and will subscribe £100 under proper security, to be paid to the Colonial Treasurer within six months, the government will contract with some respectable tradesmen in Hobart Town to proceed to the Clyde and superintend the erection both of the Chapel and Parsonage House, and will supply all stores required by the workmen.

This offer was accepted and William Foord was contracted by the government to build the church at a cost of £147. The church was to be perfectly plain and of simple architecture.

All was not as generous as first thought with William Foord complaining that he had plenty of useless men and required strong labourers to move the heavy stone. Convict rations were supplied by the government but were not adequate or fit for labourers.

The foundation stone was laid on 24th May 1830 at 1 o'clock, the Rev. James Garrett read out the inscription in Latin. The inscription was placed inside a bottle hermetically sealed, also deposited in a receptacle were some coins of the reign of His Majesty George IV.

In February 1831 the Colonial Secretary supplied the following for the pulpit and reading desk: five yards of maroon velvet and a cushion to match.

Rev. Dr. Drought performed the opening service jointly with Rev. James Garrett on Sunday 6th March 1831.

Convict John Vaughan (No. 36) per the Asia was assigned to work for Rev. Dr. Drought as Sexton at Oatlands during 1830 and 1831.

In 1964 the church was starting to show its age and needed some restoration work. A bequest from the estate of the late Leonard Ryan aided some of this work. When the roof needed repairs in 1974 Mrs. Barbara Fowler organised a wool spinning competition to raise funds. Now known as the “Spin-In” it not only financed the new roof but continues to be a major biennial community event.

St Luke’s became part of the Uniting Church of Australia in 1977.