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Bendigo Baptist Church, |
The Bendigo
Baptist Church is located on the Mc Ivor
Highway, in Bendigo's suburb of Junortoun. [Map] Bendigo is centrally located within Victoria, a
South-Eastern state of Australia. It is about
150 Km (94 miles) North-West of the states'
capital, Melbourne. Bendigo (originally
called Sandhurst) was founded on the back of
the discovery of rich gold deposits during
early settlement of the colony. This set off
a gold rush in the 1850's which was amongst
the biggest in the world. Gold mining still
continues to this present day and many
weekend fossickers search the district with
metal detectors in hand hoping to find their
fortune. Other visitors come to the region to
explore the wide range of tourist attractions
within Bendigo and the surrounding district.
Bendigo offers much for the outdoors
adventurer with large amounts of open
bushland forest and wildlife and many lakes
and rivers for fishing and water sports. More
information about our wonderful pocket of
God's creation can be found at CITY OF GREATER
BENDIGO - Open for Business
If you are planning to visit our
region, why not put a visit to the Bendigo
Baptist Church on your itinerary?
The
discovery of gold at "the
Rocks" (Now Golden Square) in
October, 1851, changed the appearance
of what had been a peaceful sheep run
from 1841. By 1861 all principle
denominations were ministering to a
population of 13,020 within the
boundaries of Sandhurst. (Later to
become Bendigo) Baptists on the
Goldfields were not numerous, but in
1853 the first meeting was held at
White Hills. Mr. & Mrs. John
Taylor, Mr. & Mrs. Jones and Miss
Jones met for worship in a tent. In
1854, a slab hut was erected in White
Hills. Shortly afterwards a
weatherboard building was erected in
Epsom for 400 pounds. Meanwhile
Baptists in the south end of town
began to assemble themselves
together. It is recorded that they
walked to the services at Epsom, a
distance of up to 20 miles a Sunday,
to attend both services. Very soon,
the establishment of a church began
within Sandhurst & by 1857 a
property leased to re-erect the
relocated White Hills building.
(Opened Feb 1859)
This
building (Left) was first erected between White Hills and
Epsom. In 1859 it was removed & re-erected in
Hargreaves St. It was disposed of by the church in
1863, & was used as a hay & corn store from
that time until around 1982 when it was pulled down.
In 1959, a
century on, thoughts were directed
towards a new church project. The
chance to buy a new property in
Edwards Street for a manse was seized
as it was diagonally opposite the
site which would be the future home
of the church. Land for the Manse was
purchased 7 years earlier (1952) than
the land for the Edward Street church
building (Pictured Below Right) which
was opened on 3rd August 1963. God
had faithfully provided for his
growing Bendigo Baptist family yet
again.
Around 1990, God
gave the church the vision to relocate
because of growing numbers and the desire to
increase & enhance our ministries.
We are now well in to the 21st
century & this new phase in the life of
the Bendigo Baptist Church has come about. We
have relocated to a new property in Junourton
- (14 acres, with larger facilities &
room to expand.)
To find out more about us, why not come &
pay us a visit us at our new home. You will
find us friendly and welcoming.
| The Bendigo Baptist Church
(Formerly the Sandhurst Chapel) Located in Hargreaves Street, Bendigo (where the present Video shop in Hargreaves Street is now) & opened the 28th February 1863 |
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| The Edward Street Building (1962 - 2002) Now an office complex in the busy heart of Bendigo. |  |
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The Bendigo Baptist Church is a member of the Baptist Union of Victoria. Our constitution defines our doctrinal statement which describes our beliefs. Read our doctrinal statement . . . . |