Upper Caboolture Uniting Church is marking a major milestone this month, celebrating 150 years of faith, community and history.
On Sunday, 9 November, the community will gather to honour what is believed to be the oldest church building in the City of Moreton Bay still in use, and still standing in its original location.
Spokesperson for the celebration, Rhona Collinson, said the anniversary was a celebration not only of the church but also of the Upper Caboolture community.
“I have been associated with the church for nearly fifty years and feel very privileged to be part of the celebrations,” Rhona said.
“I know that there are many people who have an association with the church and the community, especially the descendants of the original settlers, who are very much looking forward to being there.”
Commemorating Faith and Local Heritage
The anniversary service will be held outdoors at 10.45am, followed by a sausage sizzle served by the Rural Fire Brigade.
“The five acres – 20,000 square metres – on which the church and the cemetery are set are a glimpse into the past, as well as a signpost to the future,” Rhona said.
“So many people from Upper Caboolture, even if they are relative newcomers, tell us of the sense of ownership that they have of our little parcel of land. They enjoy wandering around the cemetery and walking the labyrinth.
“With the many new developments going on, it would be easy to say that change is taking over. However, we are still here.”
The day will also see the launch of a commemorative book featuring stories and photographs.
“The book is both a history of the church and a history of the families who came to Upper Caboolture in the early days,” Rhona said. “We are fortunate in that we have access to old Quarterly Minutes from the 1800s and Guild records through the 1900s, as well as all the treasures that can be found through the Trove database.”
In researching the book, a discovery was made that the church’s inaugural service was held on Sunday, 9 November 1876.
“After celebrating 1875 as the anniversary date for the last 90 years, it was a huge shock to find the journal article (in the Primitive Methodist Journal, Jan 1877) talking about the opening of the church the previous November,” Rhona said.
“Having found that date, we are continuing with our celebrations honouring the beginning of the 150th year of our church.”
Rhona added that she expected it would be “a day of thanking God for having brought us to this place, eating together, and meeting up with people who may not have seen each other for years.”
“I hope people go home with a renewed sense of community, a renewed sense of family bonds and a renewed sense of how we are all part of the tapestry of history,” she said.
Upper Caboolture Uniting Church 150th Anniversary Celebration
- Sunday, 9 November, 10.45am
- Upper Caboolture Uniting Church
- 561 Caboolture River Road, Lilywood
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