Author: Church Office

At the recent gathering of Victorian Baptists, three members of Collins Street were among those honoured for their distinguished service to the churches of our state.

It is now 40 years since Rev Bruce Tudball was ordained to the Baptist ministry and his contribution to the churches and agencies of the BUV was acknowledged.

Also celebrating 40 years of ministry, Rev Dr Marita Munro was the first woman to be ordained in Australia. Now Professor of Baptist Studies at Whitley College, Marita continues to invest in our movement.

And celebrating an extraordinary 60 years since his ordination to ministry, Rev Len Lewis was honoured for his faithful service across two states, concluding here at Collins Street in 2011.

In just two weeks’ time, the community of Collins Street will gather at the Amberley Retreat Centre for its annual community weekend.

Amberley is a just a 30-minute drive from the CBD, a beautiful place set on the banks of the Yarra River. The weekend provides a great opportunity to get to know each other better and to spend time reflecting on the faith that holds us together.

There are registration forms available in the narthex this Sunday or you can contact the church office for more details.

The community of Collins Street gathered on Saturday night (Aug 4) for the church’s 175^th Anniversary Dinner. The final event in our season of celebration, we met to feast! Together we told stories, shared memories and expressed our gratitude for God’s continuing presence with us.

With a three-course dinner provided by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, music from the Flinders Quartet, and stories from special guest and gifted storyteller Rev Jim Barr (minister of Collins Street 1994 – 2000), we celebrated in style. Weaved through the night were reminiscences from members of our community, new and old, and our very own quiz show hosted by Quiz Master Nigel Smith.

The generous hospitality of neighbouring Scots Church was a gift. Our thanks to all of those who contributed so beautifully to the night, and to Geoff Maddock for these wonderful images.

On Saturday July 21, Collins Street joined with the Victorian Baptist Historical Society to mark the 175th anniversary of the church.

Historian Dr Ros Otzen offered a keynote presentation, Calling the Roll: What we can learn from the membership roll of CSBC. A document dating back to 1851 — just eight years after the church was formally constituted — this grand old book contains thousands of names, each one representing a story of faith that is now part of Collins Street’s extraordinary heritage.

Interwoven in Ros’s presentation were reenactments of some notable sermons (for good and for ill) preached at Collins Street by its pastors, Revs Samuel Chapman, Samuel Pearce-Carey, FC Spurr and TE Ruth. Playing the roles of these past preachers were Rev Jim Barr, pastor of the Welsh Church of Melbourne, and actor Benjamin Newall.

Two further papers were also presented, one by Dr Liz Rushen on the life and work of Margaret McLean, and the other by Sandra Thwaites on the ministry of Rev Thomas Elias Ruth.

You can access podcasts of these presentations, along with other resources related to our anniversary celebrations, here.

In 2018, we celebrate our 175th anniversary.  From humble beginnings in 1843, Collins Street’s story of life and mission in the heart of Melbourne is an extraordinary one.

Through a number of events, we’ll be honouring our past, recalling our stories and celebrating our future as one of Australia’s oldest continuing Baptist communities.

For more details