Unique church community gives thanks for 150 years

When approximately 130 people gathered at St John’s Lutheran Church Minyip, in Victoria’s Wimmera District recently, they gave thanks to God for not one but two 150^th anniversaries and their unique history as a community of faith.

The joyful sesquicentenary celebrations of worship, hospitality and fellowship on 12 October marked 150 years since both the naming of the congregation and the dedication of its first church building on 25 September 1875. That church had been built in the area known as Kirchheim, or ‘church home’, six kilometres from Minyip. A Lutheran school was also established in 1875 and situated nearby.

But, sadly, both that first church building and the school were destroyed by a storm in February 1889. In a show of resilience for which the community would become known, the congregation immediately began planning for a rebuild. A new school building was ready for use on 20 June 1889, and, on 4 December 1889, the new church building was dedicated.

In 1925, the congregation built a new church hall in Church Street, Minyip, to help Lutheran families who lived further away from Kirchheim to meet. In 1934, the congregation agreed to relocate its church to Minyip. So, in May 1935, the 50-ton (45.4 tonne) building was moved across the paddocks to its present location in Church Street. The church was transported on a cart-like trailer known as a jinker, using a cable winch and a steam traction engine to haul it along the six-kilometre route.

Nine decades later, the building’s three stained glass windows, which were originally installed in 1911, were refurbished, restored and repaired, ready to be enjoyed by those attending the anniversary worship led by Minyip-Warracknabeal Parish Pastor John Weier. LCA Victoria-Tasmania District Bishop Lester Priebbenow was the guest preacher for the milestone service, drawing on 1 Peter 2 as his text, reminding worshippers that Christ is ‘the Cornerstone’ and that the ‘living stones’ – all Christians – are built into a spiritual house that has no ‘use-by date’.

– With thanks to St John’s Minyip Archivist Gillian Heintze.