History Intro
In November 2018, we celebrated 90 years of worship in pretty much the present church building.
From 1928 – 1977 this church was known as the Palmwoods Methodist Church.
And from 1977 after union with Presbyterians and Congregationalists to the present as Palmwoods Uniting Church.
While this was the 90th anniversary of this building, it is worth knowing that Methodists and Presbyterians have worshipped in Palmwoods since 1902 when the first Palmwoods church was built to cater for a variety of denominations. It was known as “The Union Church” (ironically, not much different from this church’s current name) and was located on Montville-Palmwoods Rd opposite what is now Tropico.
The Presbyterians worshipped in their own church from 1924 to 1977 on the land that is now used as the Palmwoods Community Garden or “Soil & Soul’.
Palmwoods was a very different place in 1902. Times were tough. But the town began to grow as did local industry and more buildings were built.
When the Palmwoods Hotel was built in 1912 on Main St, the railway town had become more significant. During the time from 1924-1928 four church buildings of different denominations were built on what was called ‘Church Hill’. The Uniting and the Anglican are the only ones that still remain. Palmwoods was named the head of a new General Circuit of the Methodist Church in 1926.
At the General Conference of the Methodist church in Australia held in 1926 visitors collected a sum of money sufficient to purchase a saddle horse for the use of the newly appointed probationary minister, Rev R. Huth. The horse was named ‘Federal’. This led to the need for a stable and feed room for the horse and eventually a parsonage and church in the township.
For a while a collective Sunday School met at the Memorial Hall.
The opening and dedication of the church with a vestry was held on Friday, 2nd Nov, 1928. The building of a parsonage followed soon after.
Kay was contacted recently by a lady called Amy Guppy nee Roy who now lives at Bargara and is still worshipping and playing the music in the Uniting Church there. She was born in Palmwoods in 1940 and baptised in this church.
It was her family church in the first 21 years of growing up. She has memories of Sunday School Picnics at Cotton Tree, book presentations, anniversaries and Christmas events.
She shared about Rays, Comrades and Oks. Her Mum was in the Methodist Ladies Guild and her father, Alfred Roy was a Shire Councillor for 10 years. She has carried on his tradition of playing the piano accordion. When she was married in 1961 she moved away to Esk. She wished to pass on her congratulations and gave praise and thanksgiving for those who have served here.
The Woodward Family have been another prominent family in the life of this church. They moved to Palmwoods in April 1957 with 4 children. We were regular attenders at Sunday services morning and evening. Dad and Mum took up teaching Sunday School in the late 1950s and did that faithfully until 1983. Dad was the superintendent of the Sunday School for over 25 years. Sunday School picnics at the Spit, Sunday School anniversaries and a Christmas Tree night were highlights of the year. Dad loved to sing the old hymns and had a good singing voice.
George says, “We are hoping to be home for Christmas. Hope you have a great celebration.” George still lives in Palmwoods with his wife, Bernadette but they often work up north in remote parts of Australia. Both he and one of his brothers, Peter are ministers and many of us know Ian Woodward of Nambour and we are thrilled to have Joan Woodward now Brackin here with us today.
We actually have their father’s legacy living on here, not only in the lives of the children, grand children and great grand children but in the tools that belonged to Les which were donated to the Community Garden.
And Peter shared in an email:
“Palmwoods in lots of ways was significant part of my life as it led me on to my great adventure in faith and ministry; and for that I am very thankful. It was not a major centre on the Methodist scene so that the simplicity and ordinariness gave me a background that looked for faith in the ordinary, not the grandiose.
I trust that your celebrations will continue you that acknowledgement of God’s love to be found in the very ordinary experiences of life. Have a blessed day, Peter.”
In 1961 The Bailey’s started attending this church. Whilst not being able to attend regularly, they are still part of our congregation today and live in the Retirement village.
Their children came to Sunday School while Mr & Mrs Woodward were teachers. They also enjoyed Sunday School picnics and Rita helped with cleaning. She enjoyed Christmas Carols outside the church which we still sometimes do today.
Both Rita and Bill have also played an active part in the life of the school.
In the 1965 the church building was extended and restumped with a kitchen added.
Lyn Garrad was a Sunday School pupil in the 50s & a Sunday School Teacher and Church Organist in the 60s.
People continued to worship here as a Methodist church until the Union in 1977 when Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches formed the Uniting Church.
The parsonage was sold and in 1982 Palmwoods became part of the Blackall Range Parish.
During the 1980s one special member, John Daniels came to worship here with his family and has been a faithful member ever since. In fact, if it wasn’t for John this place might not still be here as he has diligently kept things going.
In 1988, a new entry to the church was built comprising of a ramp and for disabled access and new toilets. The worship layout was also reversed at that time. Not much has changed since then apart from the introduction of technology. We have new front doors and will be getting much-needed roof repairs done very soon.