Wesleyan Methodists were among the first European colonists to arrive in the lands of the Kulin nations in 1835. According to C. Irving Benson, church historian and a 20th Century Superintendent of Wesley Mission, from the first days of the colony that would become Melbourne, prayers in the Methodist tradition were conducted by a lay preacher, Henry Reed. The first ordained Methodist minister, Rev Joseph Orton preached in Melbourne in April 1836, ‘striving hard to impress on white settlers their duty to [the First Peoples].’ (Benson, p.33). The British Parliament of that time was influenced by Christians seeking to end slavery and defend the rights of indigenous people in British colonies. (Broome p.xxiii) Although of a strongly colonial perspective, several early Methodist leaders in Melbourne felt a strong calling to advocate for First Peoples, including taking up ‘protectorate’ roles commissioned by Britain, seeking justice for crimes committed against First Peoples, defending those who were accused, and arguing for an allocation of land to be ‘reserved’ for them. These efforts, already limited by a lack of understanding of First Peoples’ culture, were no match for the economic and political forces of colonisation.
Notable leaders
Henry Reed
Henry Reed was a businessman and Methodist lay preacher in Tasmania. He visited Melbourne in 1835, soon after Batman and Fawkner arrived, and conducted the first worship service in the new colony.
Joseph Orton
Joseph Orton was a Wesleyan minister who had been imprisoned in Jamaica in 1828, because he had strongly opposed slavery and offered education to African slaves.
He was District Chairperson in Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) 1836-40. He visited Melbourne in 1836, and on April 24, he conducted the first service by an ordained minister in the colony.
He stressed that Aboriginal people must be treated justly, and that substantial land must be reserved for their use.
Daniel Draper
Daniel Draper came to Victoria in 1855 to be Chairman of Victoria for the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Trained as a builder, Draper was passionate about building beautiful churches (Benson p.116) and under his leadership, the present large gothic church in Lonsdale St was built in 1858. Although the design was resisted within the church, it was part of an innovative new direction in Methodist architecture.
As a founder of Wesley College, Draper returned from a visit to Britain with a library for the school. His steamship, “London”, was disabled in a storm in the Bay of Biscay, and as the ship slowly sank over two days, he led prayers and hymns to enable people to prepare for their death.
The first church
By 1838, there was a Wesleyan society of about 30 people meeting in a small brick church on the corner of Swanston Street & Flinders Lane. They were led by lay preachers, including:
George Lilley, an Irish settler who ran a small shop; Thomas Watson, a Waterloo veteran who ran a water-carting business; and William Witton, the first class leader.
The second church
They soon outgrew the first chapel, and a second brick church, 47 ft x 57 ft, was built in 1841 on the corner of Collins Street & Queen Street.
The organ was installed in 1842 and is now in the present church.
The present church
Wesley Church in Lonsdale Street was opened in August, 1858. Daniel Draper pushed for an elegant gothic design, in line with contemporary innovations in Methodist architecture. The architect was Joseph Reed, who also designed many notable buildings in Melbourne, including the Town Hall, the Public Library and the Exhibition Buildings, as well as Collins St Baptist Church, Scots Church and the Independent Church (now St Michael’s). The church and the surrounding historic buildings (Manse, Schoolhouse, Caretaker’s Cottage) were comprehensively restored with works completed in 2020.
Moy Ling and the Gospel Hall
Moy Ling was a young Chinese interpreter who converted to Christianity. With the support of Wesley Church he established a mission in Little Bourke Street in 1872, and opened a Gospel Hall in 1872. Moy Ling was ordained by the Methodist Conference in 1877, and continued to minister for over 30 years. Gospel Hall faced the challenges of the racist White Australia Policy between 1901 and 1973, but when immigration reopened to the Chinese community in the 1970s the congregation grew rapidly once again. The Little Bourke Street chapel in Chinatown continues to be a hub of community life, and the Cantonese language worship service has been held in Wesley Church for over fifty years.
Mrs Emma Jane Varcoe, the first Biblewoman
Wesley Church was located near “Little Lon”, the poorest part of Melbourne. In 1884, the Home Mission Society appointed Mrs Varcoe as a Biblewoman to work with people suffering serious poverty. Along with Christian counselling, she would provide money for rent, food and clothing. She founded Livingstone House, a home for homeless boys in Drummond Street, Carlton.
Mrs Varcoe travelled around Victoria preaching in Methodist churches and sharing the needs of impoverished children. The Broadford Courier reported in July 1899, On Sunday evening in Broadford Mrs. Varcoe preached an able sermon from ” Come, for all things are now ready,” and the powerful and excellent way in which this home missioner delivered the message gave unbounded satisfaction and pleasure, some saying ‘It was the best sermon they ever heard’.
By 1888, there were eight Biblewomen working in the inner city.
The Central Methodist Mission
In 1893, with Melbourne’s worst slums crowding around the church, the Conference declared Wesley to be the Central Methodist Mission, and appointed Alexander Edgar as its first Superintendent. That Mission became Wesley Mission Melbourne, which grew into one of Melbourne’s largest non-profit social welfare agencies. It is now part of Uniting Victas, which provides community services in many parts of Victoria and Tasmania, with headquarters on this site.
Alexander Edgar
Alexander Edgar had been a strong advocate of both evangelism and social activism in all his ministry placements. In 1893, in response to learning about the poverty experienced by people working fulltime in the textile industry in Melbourne, Edgar established a Sunday afternoon program of speakers discussing major social issues. Melbourne suffered a Depression in the 1890s and Pleasant Sunday Afternoons sought to relate theology to social issues. (Howe and Swain, Challenge of the City p11) Edgar’s advocacy of fair wages led to him being appointed chair of the first Victorian wages board. In his time it was said that “services at Wesley were ritualistic in the morning, socialistic in the afternoon and evangelistic at night”. Alexander Edgar often held the evening services in the open air, or in a theatre, and used magic lantern slides in these services.
The Princess Mary Club
The Princess Mary Club was built in 1926 to provide accommodation in the city for young women who would otherwise be unable to receive tertiary education. This continued until about 1970.
Church Union
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed in 1977, by union of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches. Some years later stained glass windows were added to show John Calvin of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition, and Isaac Watts of the Congregational tradition.
Separation of Mission and Congregation
Amid the complexities of the Mission’s expansion, taking on government programs, its policy of de-institutionalisation and finally a controversy about a proposed primary care health facility for drug-dependant people on the site, Wesley Church and Wesley Mission were separated into two distinct bodies in 2001. Following the separation the Mission and the Congregation entered into a covenant relationship which has now been inherited by Uniting Vic.Tas, Wesley Mission’s successor organisation.
Wesley Church, Melbourne: the Building
The Church was opened on 26 August 1858, having been built in nine months. It was designed by architect Joseph Reed, who also designed the Melbourne Town Hall and the Scots and Independent churches. It is in the English Gothic style and takes the shape of a cross.
The building is 50.3 metres (165 feet) long from north to south, most of this being the nave. The width is 23.5 metres (77 feet) at the transepts (the “arms” of the cross). The original seating in the nave, transepts and upstairs gallery was for 1,800. Changes throughout the years have included the addition of a central aisle in the nave and the removal of some seats for a narthex at the entrance of the church. It now seats about 500.
The church has an octagonal spire rising 53.3 meters (175 feet) above ground level. It was for many years the tallest point on the Melbourne skyline.
Tour of the Church
The Narthex is dedicated to the Rev. Arthur W. Preston (d. 1985), sixth superintendent of Wesley Mission. Under his guidance, the Mission greatly expanded its social services. On the walls of the Narthex are two paintings by Rupert Bunny (1864-1947). “The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32) and “Abraham’s Sacrifice” (Genesis 22:1-14). These were given to Wesley Church in 1934. The southwest porch is in memory of Dr. J.F. Wilkinson, a member of Wesley Church. A single window on the west wall shows St Luke, physician and author of the third gospel.
The Hoban Chapel was added to the church in 1933 in memory of the Rev. Samel J. Hoban, third superintendent of the Mission. The Communion table was given in his memory by his friends in Ballarat. Three windows commemorate aspects of his life.
The Gallery Windows: the largest windows are in the upstairs galleries. They are best seen from the lowest rows of seats in the galleries or from the opposite aisle of the nave or the transept.
In the southern gallery there are four large windows. Two centre windows depict St Paul preaching in Athens to a group of eager listeners. The left window shows the good Samaritan helping the wounded man. The right window depicts Dorcas, an early Christian known for her good works. The lower panes of the window are a memorial to Rev. Alexander Edgar, the founding superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission. He was known for his preaching and for his action on behalf of those who were sick and poor.
The Organ was the first pipe organ in the colony. A generous and musical member of the earlier Collins Street Church ordered it and guaranteed the 500 pound purchase. It was built in Lancashire, England, and arrived in Melbourne in September 1842. A gala concert opened the organ in January 1843 and was attended by a large audience, including the colony’s superintendent, C.J. La Trobe. In 1858, the organ was moved to Wesley Church from the church at Collins and Queen Streets. Many changes were made in it, especially during the late 1800’s. In 1957, it was largely rebuilt and it was revoiced again in 1987. It became well known throughout Australia during the 44 years from 1924 to 1968 when services were broadcast weekly from Wesley Church.
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A Methodist chapel was built on the corner of Collins and Queen Streets at the western side of the settlement, and an organ was imported in 1842. Following the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851, rapid immigration and expansion of the city saw the Wesleyan congregation outgrow their chapel and build a neo-gothic bluestone church in Lonsdale Street in 1858.
- Originally a Wesleyan Church, it became a Methodist Church in the union of 1902, and then part of the Uniting Church in Australia in the union with the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches in 1977.
- Located in Lonsdale Street, in the Central Business District of Melbourne, Australia
- In 1893, in response to community needs, started Wesley Mission, which is now part of Uniting VicTas, a large community services organisation serving the most vulnerable people in our community.
Read more about Wesley Church on Wikipedia.