St Matthew's

In February 1892, Church News reported plans for a small paling structure to be constructed and utilised as a church at Beulah. This building was to be situated adjacent to the local school.

Initially, services were held in the schoolhouse, conducted by Rev. Vaughan, who visited intermittently. Regular fortnightly services commenced on 26th June 1898 under Rev. James Roper.

Mr. William Richardson generously donated land for the establishment of a state school, school residence, and both church buildings.

Funds were collected at these early gatherings, and by 1904 sufficient funds were available to erect the church. On 28th April 1904, Mrs. Brammall, the Rector’s wife, ceremoniously laid the foundation stone.

The Examiner newspaper reported on 3rd May 1904 that construction of the Beulah English Church was progressing, with all framework completed. By early June, the building was still under construction, and additional events were held to raise funds.

In late September 1904, Dr. Mercer, the Bishop of the Diocese, dedicated the new church, St. Matthew’s. He was joined by Reverends E.J. Brammall, W. Hogg, E.C. Spink, along with other vicars and local residents.

Over the ensuing 40 years, the church endured considerable damage, mostly from the wind, necessitating substantial repairs. With the Baptist church, built in 1892, no longer in use, it was decided to acquire that building and sell the original one. Permission was granted by the Baptist Union, and the sale proceeded. The first service in the newly acquired church was held on 16th April 1944.

While the identities of the builders remain unknown, it is believed much of the construction was undertaken voluntarily. Mr. Frank Walker, a local resident, recalled that, as a boy, he remembered his father helping to cart timber from Paradise for the church, noting it had “the steepest shingled roof he ever saw.”

In preparation for a rededication ceremony, a working bee was organised to paint the exterior, varnish the interior, and place new matting in the sanctuary. On 15th June 1949, at 11 a.m., Bishop Geoffrey Cranswick of Tasmania officiated the dedication.

In 1998, the old church building was sold to Mr. Lewis Dawkins, who later dismantled and removed it.