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Methodism in Pascoe Vale.
The following record was compiled by Mr George Kent, Mr Graham James, Mr Les Dumble and Rev. Daryl Chellew. November 1975.
Methodism was first founded in Pascoe Vale by the late Mr Tom Gyles, who commenced services in his home on the north-east corner of Pleasant and Gyles Streets, Pascoe Vale (diagonally opposite the Holy Trinity Anglican Church). When Gyles St was made, it named in his honour. The first service was at 11 am on Sunday, July 18th, 1909 and was conducted by Rev. George Doherty, Minister from the Campbellfield Circuit, within which Pascoe Vale became a preaching place. About the same time, Sunday school classes were held in the Pascoe Vale State School, corner of Gaffney and Cumberland Roads.
On Sunday, November 3rd, 1918, a new weatherboard Church was opened with the President of the Conference, Rev Samuel Adamson preaching the first sermon and the Rev E T Cox, Superintendent of the Melbourne (Flemington and Essendon) Circuit taking the evening service. The newspaper commented “A good number of friends from Moonee Ponds and Flemington went to Pascoe Vale on Saturday afternoon by the early trains and pleasant rural surroundings. The walk gave them a good appetite for the splendid tea that was provided, about 200 sitting down. A concert took place at 8 pm and the Premier, Hon. W. A. Watt occupied the Chair. From this point on, the Church was transferred from the Campbellfield Circuit to the care of the Moonee Ponds Pastorate.
Some years late, the Campbellfield Home Mission station (to which it had been reduced) commenced another preaching place in the Westbreen Hall on the corner of Pascoe St and Northumberland Rd.
Then in 1937, Conference appointed Rev. William J Ormandy (now Supernumerary) to be the first Minister of a new “Pascoe Vale and Merlynston” Circuit, this consisted of four churches – Westbreen (from Campbellfield Home Mission station), Merlynston (from Coburg Circuit), Pascoe Vale South (from Coburg Circuit) and Pascoe Vale (from Moonee Ponds circuit).
On Thursday, April 21st, 1937 at 8 pm. Mr Ormandy was welcomed and the main Church was the venue (situated on the north side of Pleasant St, some distance west of Gyles St. Mr Ormandy was also charged with the chaplaincy of the Metropolitan Gaol. Mr T H O Gyles was appointed the first senior circuit steward and Mr R Sid Clark of Merlynston, the Junior Steward. Circuit membership then was Pascoe Vale 77, Merlynston 26, Balmoral Ave (Pascoe Vale South) 34 and Westbreen 12. Estimated annual income was including chaplaincy allowance, 125 pounds.
The Westbreen Church was represented by Mr Harry Shell and plans were passed to build a Church on newly acquired land 80 x 490 feet which cost 102 pounds and 10 shillings. It was to be called a school hall to seat 150 people. The next development at Westbreen was in 1954 when a Kinder hall 17 x 50 feet was erected of Plumberite and Durabestos for 740 pounds. These two halls were the nearest Westbreen ever got to a Church, and they are at present in good use having been transported to the Kent Road site in 1959.
The first parsonage to house Rev W J Ormandy was commenced in November 1937 and was opened on Saturday, April 30th the following year at 16 Pleasant St (later changed to Number 12). The triple fronted brick home was occupied thus by the Superintendent Minister until November 1974 when it was sold to a private home to Mr Jack Stevens, a bank manager for 55.000 Pounds. The original cost is listed in the Synod schedule of 1,654 Pounds.
In 1951, Miss Catherine Breen living alone in a five bedroom weatherboard house on the corner of Kent and Cornwall Roads made a gift to the Pascoe Vale Circuit of the house and land measuring 248 x 216 feet. The only stipulation was that she would have occupancy of the house until her death. Consequently, during the Superintendency of Rev Wilfred Stanford after months of planning, it was agreed to amalgamate the Pascoe Vale and Westbreen churches and erect a new suite of buildings on the L-shaped land surrounding the house. The thought being that the new Church would be the centre of the then large circuit of nine churches.
In October 195t4, Miss Breen went to Elsternwick to reside with her sister and this enabled the circuit to apply for a married minister as a second agent. Conference appointed a Probationer, Rev Wesley Vial, who took up residence at 46 Cornwall Rd after its renovation, furnishing and dedication on Saturday, June 18th, 1955.
Planning for the amalgamation continued and the property was purchased from the circuit by the combined Pascoe Vale and Westbreen Church Trusts for 9,000 Pounds being paid over 9 years at 1,000 Pounds annually. Plans for the building were prepared by Earl and Bunbury, later Earl and Associates, and erected by H. L. Yencken and Co.
On November 8th, 1959, rev W Stanford conducted the last service in the Westbreen Hall and on Saturday, November 28th, the opening ceremony was conducted for the new buildings. The cost was 27,381 Pounds. By the commencement of the next Connexional year, a new parsonage had been built in Camp Rd, Broadmeadows for the second Minister, Rev Bruce Silverwood. The old Breen house was demolished to form the present car park at Kent Rd.
In 1961, the Sunday school building was extended with new toilet and pre-school facilities, and since then a daily pre-school has functioned with full enrolment of children.
Graham James, who was Trust Secretary during the negotiations and amalgamations, later served on the Coburg City Council for 12 years and was Mayor of the City in 1966-67.
In 1972, Rev Daryl Chellew became the Superintendent, the needs of his family meant that a project long talked about became urgent. Either extensive renovations to the old parsonage were essential (costed at $7,000) or a new home was needed on the vacant 70 foot side block to the east of the Church, which had always been reserved on the Master plan for a residence.
After protracted investigations, it was decided to proceed with the plans. Mr Chellew, together with a building committee made detailed plans which when costed envisaged a cost of some $5,500 above, the anticipated selling price of the old house. Work commenced in February 1974, the builder being Mr David Irvine, the session clerk of Coburg Presbyterian Church. The home was occupied in November with a garden party and open house and marked the completion on Sunday, March 16th, 1975, when special guests included Rev Douglas Risstrom (formerly Chairman of the Synod), Mr Sid Clark the original Junior Circuit steward. On the front façade of the new parsonage is a carved emblem for the future Uniting Church in Australia. The house is brick veneer with steel roof decking on a solid concrete slab. Total cost $40,000.
