The Churches.

According to Bonwick the first religious service in Kew was conducted at the house of Mr. James V. Morgan, on Prospect Hill, in January, 1853, when the preacher was Mrs. Thomas, a distinguished and eloquent temperance advocate. From this time afternoon services were held, and subsequently land was purchased and a wooden church erected] at a cost of £360. This was known as the Primitive Methodist Church, afterwards as the United Methodist. It was opened in September, 1857, and carried on for a number of years, until the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist in Highbury Grove. Mr. Foy commenced morning services at his house in April, 1853. The first church to be opened was the Independent, now Congregational, in April, 1854. The Salvation Army has carried on its work in Kew for a number of years with great enthusiasm.

Methodist Ladies' College.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.-This was the first congregation and Church established in Kew. In 1853, when the village consisted of only a few cottages and tents, Messrs. J. J. French and «85» James Day set themselves to work to provide a building in which divine worship might be conducted. They waited upon Mr. N. A. Fenwick, and obtained a gift from him of the land in Walpole Street on which the Church stands. They then solicited donations from the residents, and with the help of members of the parent Church in Collins Street, Melbourne, a sufficient sum was raised to commence operations. The first Church, known in its early days as the Independent Chapel, was built of brick at a cost of £490, and opened free of debt on 16th April, 1854. The opening services were reached by Rev. Alexander Morison, of Collins Street, afterwards a resident of Kew for some years, and the Rev. Edwin Day, afterwards of Castlemaine. Services were carried on by helpers from various places, and among these were Rev. John Allen and Mr. George Bell, sen., of Richmond. Some idea of Walpole Street in those days may be gathered from Bonwick's remark: "Well do we remember the forest of trees and dense undergrowth of wattles through which we passed to reach this sanctuary in the wilds." The Church grew, and was formally constituted on 21st February, 1856. During this year Mr. Richard Connebee had come to reside in Kew, and had frequently taken the services. The superiority of his discourses so pleased the congregat-ion that he was asked to accept the pastorate of the Church, which he did in January, 1857, and thus became its first minister. Under his ministrations the congregation, representative of many denominations, steadily increased, and it became necessary to double the size of the Church. Soon the congregation felt itself strong enough to commence the erection of a permanent Church, and in April, 1860, the main portion of the present Church was opened, having cost about £1,100. In 1863 the Rev. Mr. Connebee, to the great regret of his congregation, accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the Church at Dunedin, New Zealand, but in 1868 he was urged to return and resume work in Kew, which he did, and remained pastor until his death on 16th October, 1883. During this second period the Church was «86» further enlarged to its present size. In 1886 the old building forming the first Church was replaced by a fine hall and class rooms at a cost of about £1,000. Further additions, in the shape of organ chamber, &c., were made to the Church itself in 1890, at a cost of £800. The succession of ministers has been:-1857-68, Rev. R. Connebee; 1863-66, Rev. J. D. Davies; 1866-68, Rev. A. R. Philps; 1868-83, Rev. R. Connebee; 1884-94, Rev. G. G. Howden; 1896, Rev. R. A. Betts, the present pastor. Among the many names of persons who have done yeoman service for the Church may be mentioned those of Messrs. T. Judd, T. Luke, J. H. French, W. Allen, and W. H. Barlow; also Mr. Geo. Bell, who devoted many years of faithful duty as organist, besides helping in many other ways; thus he and Mr. John Waldock for many years acted as lay preachers at the Independent Chapel at Janefield, near Bundoora. Branch Churches are now conducted at High Street, East Kew, and at Deepdene, the former being practically a revival of one established so long ago as 1859 at Bulleen, where a site near the Koonung Creek was given for the Church by Mr. Thomas Ragg, one of the pioneer farmers of the district, an one of the earliest members of the Boroondara Road Board. The Church possesses a fine organ, erected in 1891. On the walls may be seen memorial tablets to the Rev. R. Connebee and Mrs. Connebee, also to the Rev. G. G. Howden. Connected with the Church are numerous organisations for promoting the welfare of its adherents, besides a well attended Sunday School. The present officers of the Church are :-Life Deacons, Mr. T. Judd and Mr. J. V. Morgan; Deacons, Messrs. T. W. Burrage, W. H. Davies, J. Donaldson, T. G. Jellis, H. Joyce, Rev. J. King, J. B. Leach, and J. Little; Hon. Secretary and Acting Treasurer, Mr. T. W. Burrage, Cotham Road, Kew.

Macaulay’s Boat Sheds.

BAPTIST CHURCH.-The Kew Baptist Church traces its origin to a service held on Sunday, 10th April, 1858, at the house of Mr. Joseph Foy, in Wellington Street, near the present intersection «87» of Edgevale Road. For upwards of seventeen months Mr. Foy conducted services at his house Lord's Day morning. These services were very were attended by members of all Protestant denominations, for at that time there was no building devoted to divine service nearer than Richmond, During this time efforts were made to secure a piece of land for a Church, and the site of the present Church was purchased at a cost of twenty-five shillings per foot. A wooden building was then arranged for and opened by a public tea meeting on 18th September, 1854. The price of the tickets was 2/6 each, with no half-price for children, yet the accommodation of the building was taxed to its utmost. It is noteworthy that this was the first tea meeting held in Boroondara. It may be also mentioned t at the carpenters employed in building the Church received twenty-five shillings a day as wages.

On 24th September, 1854, the Rev. Mr. Foy commenced his regular ministry, and for twently-four years faithfully conducted the services of the Church and took his share in the activities of the district. Owing to failing health, he was obliged to resign early in 1879, an on 3rd May of that year he was laid to rest in the Boroondara Cemetery, where twenty years earlier he had committed to their last resting place the remains of Mrs. John Quick, the first interment in the cemetery, just after the reserve had been proclaimed for that purpose, and before even it had been enclosed. Mr. Foy was followed by Rev. H. Marsden, a recent arrival from England, who took charge in May, 1880. Through his efforts the present brick Church was commenced, but unfortunately he did not live to see it opened. This ceremony took place in August, 1 2. In October, 1882, the Rev. James Blaikie commenced his ministry, and continued for ten years, until his removal to New Zealand. The Rev. J. B. Gillison, M.A., occupied the pulpit from December, 1892, to April, 1894; and was followed by the Rev. S. Howard from October, 1894, to the middle of 1900. In April, 1901, the present «88» minister, the Rev. W. H. Holdsworth, M.A., accepted the pastorate, and has carried on a very successful ministry.

The Church possesses a handsome Sunday School building in which is conducted a large and flourishing Sunday School, and there exist in connection with the church a Christian Endeavor Society, Ladies' Sewing Class, Pastor's Class for Young Men and Young women, all of which are doing good work.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.-The early history of the Church of England is somewhat uncertain, but about 1856 a school house was built on the Little Pakington (now Peel) Street frontage of a piece of land given by Mr. N. A. Fenwick, now occupied by No. 42 Walpole Street, leaving the Walpole Street frontage for a Church, to be erected at some future time. In 1868 services were carried on in the building by Mr. Pickering, lay reader, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Baxter in 1859. In 1860-1 Rev. James Sullivan conducted services. In 1861 the congregation felt itself sufficiently strong to take steps towards the erection of a permanent Church, and Mr. Charles Barrett offered to act as honorary architect, and draw plans for a suitable building, for which the name "Holy Trinity" was chosen. In 1862 it was decided that the land in Walpole Street should be kept for school purposes, and that a new site at the corner of Bulleen Road (High Street) and Pakington Street be secured for the Church. Rev. W. Chalmers and Rev. Robert Potter were in charge during the year. Matters progressed so satisfactorily that on 3rd September the foundation stone of the present building was laid by His Honor the Chief Justice, Sir William F. Stawell, who, as a resident of Kew, had been foremost in the work of the Church. There is no inscription on the foundation stone, but a scroll with the following particulars was placed in a bottle with several coins of the realm under the stone :- «89»

"HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, KEW,

The Foundation Stone of this Church
was laid by
The Honorable Sir William F. Stawell, .Kt.,
Chief Justice of the Colony of Victoria,
On 3rd September, 1862,
Being the 26th year of the reign of Her Majesty
Queen Victoria; His Excellency; Sir Henry
Barkly, K.C.B., Governor-in-Chief of the
Colony of Victoria; the Right Reverend Charles
Perry, D.D., by the Grace of God, Lord Bishop
of Melbourne.
Incumbency-Vacant.
Trustees-Sir William F. Stawell, Kt.; John
Halfey, Esq. ; Charles F. Bradley, Esq.
Committe:
R. M. Young, Geo. Stevenson, A. Willis,
T. Hancock, J R. Withers, F. J. Wilson,
S. R. Groom, S. Stephens, R. A. Sutherland,
W. H. Cubley.
Hon. Treasurer and Secretary-J. G. Tanner.
Hon. Architect-Charles Barrett.
Clerk of Works-Jas. Bonham.
Contractors-Messrs. Corben and Wilson."

The Lord Bishop addressed the assemblage, and a collection was taken up. In the evening a tea meeting was held, when Dean Macartney and Rev. W. Woods, of Christ Church, Hawthorn, gave addresses. The building, which provided accommodation for 200 sittings, cost about £1,000, and was opened for divine service on 5th March, 1863, when the Revs. H. P. Handfield and J. H. Gregory preached the opening sermons. The Rev. Rowland Hayward had just been appointed incumbent, and filled that position until 31st March, 1870. The Church soon proved too small for the requirements of the district, and twelve months later was enlarged to accommodate 150 additional sittings. In 1864 a stained glass memorial window was erected to the memory of the late Prince Consort, which bears the following inscription : - "Dedicated to the Glory of the Most Holy Trinity, and in Memory of «90» the Illustrious Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria, A.D. 1863." In 1869 additional land was purchased and a vicarage commenced, which was finished the following ear, and occupied by Rev. G. O. Vance, M.A., who had been appointed incumbent on 31st March, 1870. On the same day the incumbency was constituted a parish. In 1875 the transepts were built, bringing the sitting accommodation up to 600, at a total cost of over £3,000. In 1879 the organ, which had been erected in 1869 was replaced by a larger instrument, and Mr. George Peake, who had been organist for about eight years resigned. He was followed by Mr. J. Braim as organist and Mr. S. Lamble as choir master. The cost of the organ, and the enlargement of the organ chamber was raised by the ladies of the congregation. On the 11th July, 1881, the Church was consecrated, and on the 2nd August following, the first vestry was appointed, being as follows:-Trustees' Churchwarden, Sir W. F. Stawell; Incumbent's Churchwarden; W.H. Lamond; Parishioners' Churchwarden, Herbert. J. Henty; Incumbent's Vestrymen, Henry Henty, W. Sewell, and R. Summers; Parishioners' vestrymen G. Wharton, J. Alsop, A. Purchas, F. Throssell, F.W. Howard, W. H. Wrixon, W. Snelling, A. S. King, and Dr. Fishbourne. In 1888 the upper portion of the chancel window was fitted with stained glass, the gift of Mr. John I. Buchan. In the same year the eastern portion of the parish was formed into a separate parish under the name of St. Hilary's. The original trustees, Sir W. F. Stawell, John Halfey, and Charles J. Bradley, all passed away in 1889. Four years later the Mission Church of St. Denys' was opened in Byron Street, in the south eastern portion of the parish. In the same year the ladies of the congregation presented a handsome reredos to the Church. In December, the Rev. Dr. Vance was appointed Dean of Melbourne, and vacated the incumbency after nearly twenty-five years service. Has was succeeded by Rev. W. G. Hindley, who was inducted on 2nd January, 1895. The same year the hall of the «91» parish hall buildings was erected and opened in September by the Dean of Melbourne, the design being completed two years later. In 1897 Mr. H. J. Alsop was appointed organist on the retirement of Mr. F. Braim after about eighteen years' service. The following year a new organ was purchased. In 1899 Mr. William Snelling, who had been an active worker in Church affairs since its foundation in 1863, passed away, and a tablet in recognition of his long and faithful services was erected in the Church. Mr. A. S. King for many years one of the Churchwardens, died in the same year, and a tablet was also erected in his memory. In 1902 Canon Hindley received the appointment of Archdeacon of Melbourne, resigning his position as Vicar in July, 1904, when the Rev. Canon Sutton, the present Vicar, was appointed and inducted on lst September. In 1903 Dr. W. Butler Walsh, who had been a member of the vestry for nearly twenty years, passed away, and a memorial window and brass tablet were erected to his memory. The same year Trinity Grammar School was founded. In 1909 further additions, including a choir vestry, were made to the Church at a cost of about £70 . In addition to those already named, the following may be mentioned as having rendered faithful service to the Church for long periods :-Messrs. W. Siddeley, George Wharton (to whom there is a memorial window), Chas. F. Bradley (Secretary and Treasurer for ten years), A. F. Mollison, R. McDougall, J. A. Kitchen, Holland Loxton, F. W. Howard, G. G. Crespin (for many years Sunday School Superintendent), T. Brodribb (who has been a member of the vestry since 1880, and is at the present time the oldest office-bearer in the parish), John Payne, J. K. Merritt, and W. A. Blake. There are also memorial windows to Mr. Charles Barrett, hon. architect, and Mr. T. Maidment. The present hon. secretary is Mr. W. J. Roberts, and hon. treasurer Mr. W. H. Castell. The Rev. W. Perry Martin is Curate and morning Superintendent of the Sunday School, Mr. E. G. Jennings being the afternoon Superintendent. The Sunday «92» School at St. Denys' is in the charge of Mr. Wilfred Ward. In connection with the Church is a Church Union and Debating Society, Church of England Men's Society, Missionary Union, Girls' Friendly Society, Girls' Gymnasium, Mothers' Union and Sewing' Guild, and' the Trinity Young Men's Club. The Verger, Mr. J. Beckman, has held that position for some twenty-six years.

The ”Genazzano“ Convent, F.C.J.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.-Early in 1874 steps were taken by a. number of adherents of the Presbyterian Church living in Kew to establish a charge, and services were commenced in the Town Hall in June, 1874. Among those who were leaders in the movement may be mentioned Hon. R. S. Anderson, Messrs. Thomas Austin, David Beath, W. H. Bowden, William Howieson, Francis Jamieson, J. Marshall, D. R. McGregor, J. Smith, and J. Watson. Steps were then taken to build a Church, and a site at the corner of Cotham Road and Highbury Grove having been secured, a wooden building, now used as a Sunday School, was erected, and opened for worship on 20th December, 1874. The first settled minister of the growing congregation was the Rev. David S. Maxwell, who was inducted into the pastoral office in December 1875. He resigned the charge in January, 1877, and was succeeded by the Rev. F. R. M. Wilson on 23rd August, 1877, who occupied the pulpit for nearly twenty-one years. On his resignation in 1898 he was succeeded by the present minister, Rev. John Barnaby, who was inducted on 4th November, 1898. The congregation having outgrown the original wooden Church, the present Church was erected and opened for worship in December, 1887. The building is of dark bricks, with facings and spire of patent hydraulic stone, the total height of the spire being 125 feet. The Church, which has a seating accommodation of about 350, cost, with fittings, over £4,000. In 1906 a two-manual organ with fifteen stops was installed, at a cost of £375. In 1890 a Manse costing about £2,000 was erected adjacent to the Church. In addition to the Sunday «93» School, there are a number of organisations connected with the Church, such as Fellowship Association, Bible Class, branches of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union, the Young People's Mission Band, and the Laymen's Missionary Union, Dorcas Society, and Ladies' Committee. The hon. treasurer is Mr. B. Jenkins; acting hon. secretary, Mr. F. J. Hart; Superintendent of Sunday School, Mr. J. F. Crow; and session clerk, Mr. J. M. Campbell, who was secretary to the Church in 1875. The following members link the present congregation with the early stages of its growth :-Miss A. Bowden, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Campbell, Mrs. T. S. Harrison, Mr. F. Jamieson, Mrs. Jno. Marshall, Rev. D. S. and Mrs. Maxwell.

Views at Xavier College.

ROMAN CATHOLIC.-The Roman Catholics of Kew for many years attended the Richmond Church as being the most convenient. When the Hawthorn Church was opened in 1869 it attracted a number of Kew worshippers. Early in the seventies Father Nolan, S.J., of Richmond, set about establishing a Church in Kew, and by 1875 a brick building had been erected in Walpole Street, but it was not till 1880 that Kew was made a separate parish, and Father Fallon, now of the parish of St. John the Baptist, appointed to the Sacred Heart Mission. The congregation steadily increased, and steps were being] taken to provide better accommodation when by the generosity of the late Mr. James Crotty it became possible to purchase the splendid site at the corner of Cotham and Glenferrie Roads, which will afford ample room for a Church, presbytery, parish hall, and school. A commencement has been made with the hall, and the foundation stone of a large building of Roman Doric architecture was laid by Archbishop Carr on 10th December, 1900. The building was opened in May following. It contains a fine hall at present used for Church purposes, and a number of large class rooms in which the day school has been conducted for some years past. Father O'Donohue has been in charge since lst December, 1891, and under his care the parish has made great progress. «94»

METHODIST CHURCH.-In 1881, during the ministry of Rev. W. H. Fitchett, B.A., at Hawthorn, a number of members of the denomination living at Kew considered that the time was opportune for founding a local Church. The Superintendent of the Circuit, the Rev. W. A. Quick of Richmond, met the members and formed them into a society class under the leadership of Mr. A. Brown and a Church was formally instituted at the house of Mr. T. J. Eaton, of Eglinton Street, in December, 1881. Services were regularly held for some time at the same place, and funds for purchasing a block of land were gradually collected, resulting in the present site in Highbury Grove being purchased for £350. Messrs. W. Cleverdon, A. Money, T. E. Serpell, and T. Vasey, of Hawthorn, and Messrs. A. Brown, R. Eyre, and T. J. Eaton of Kew, were appointed trustees. A public meeting was held a the Town Hall, when over £100 was raised. The Rev. John Harcourt, who had just been placed on the supernumerary list, was persuaded to undertake the charge, and commenced services in the Town Hall on 29th April, 1882, which were continued for eighteen months. A Sunday School was started, and altogether the effort progressed so safisfactorily that in October, 1882, the foundation and memorial stones of the present Church were laid by Mr James Huddart. At the tea meeting held in connection with this event nearly £200 was raised and a few months later £250 more was obtained by means of a bazaar. The contract for building Church was let for £1,200. The Sunday School celebrated its first anniversary in June, and the Church was opened on 7th October 1883, the preachers on the occasion being Revs. E. J. Watkin, S. Chapman, and John Harcourt, the collections amounting to £230. Towards raising these sums of money the ladies of the congregation helped very materially. In 1886 the foundation stone of a Sunday school, to cost about £900, was laid by Mrs H Berry, the building being opened in April 1887. During the same year the Church was enlarged. In 1889 parsonage was erected, and again arrangements had «94» to be made for a further enlargement of the Church, at a cost of nearly £2,000. The foundation stones of the tower were laid by Rev J. Harcourt, and of the transepts by Mrs. Job Smith and Mrs. John Watson. These additions were made during the ministry of Rev. P. R. C. Ussher, the first minister appointed to Kew by conference. He has been succeeded by Revs. Henry Howard, J. de Q. Robin, J. J. Brown, J. G. Wheen, A. E. Albiston, M.A., and F. J. Nance, M.A., who is at present ably filling the pulpit. For the musical portion of the services, the Church has been greatly indebted to the enthusiasm of Mr. C. Gardner, the leader of the choir, and Mr. C. E. Gardner, the organist. The Sunday School has had a number of excellent workers, among whom may be mentioned Messrs. Burchett, Allum, Hillard, Tonkin, Dent, Avery, McDonald, Green, and B. Hoadley, who have acted as Superintendents, and Messrs. Arnall and McCaghern as Secretaries. The present trustees are Messrs. H. Berry, Job Smith, A. Hoadley, F. Vial, C. Powers, H. L. Carnegie, C. H. Green, W. R. Rylah, E. M. Tonkin, S. Gaylard, J. Gregory, J. R. McDonald, T. J. Eaton, F. S. Fitchett, and S. Lamble; Society Stewards, T. J. Eaton and B. Hoadley; Poor Stewards, G. Hinchliffe and G. Fraser; Church Stewards, C. H. Green and G. Hinchliffe; Treasurer, F. S. Fitchett; Secretary, S. Lamble.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.-St. Hilary's, East Kew. This Church stands on land at the corner of John and Rowland Streets, set aside by Captain Dumaresq for Church purposes when sub-dividing his property, but it was not utilised for many years afterwards, for it was not till 1888 that steps were taken to found a Church. By that time the population of East Kew had grown sufficiently to warrant the Church authorities forming a new parish, which absorbed portion of that of Holy Trinity. The building was opened on lst January, 1889 by Bishop Goe the first incumbent being the Rev. H. Stanley Mercer, M.A. The first board of guardians consisted of Messrs. J. Wilkinson, C. R. Parsons, H. «95» Ecles, G.W. Lilley, J. G. Mickelburgh, and Captain Dumaresq. The Church, which is of wood, has seating accommodation for about 450 persons, and there is a convenient Parish Hall. There is a flourishing Sunday School of about 200 young people. A choir of over thirty members is under the direction of E. Lee Neil, who 18 organist and choir-master. The parish is greatly interested in foreign mission work, and has its own missionary, besides providing for the support of two native catechists and educating two mission scholars in the mission schools. The present incumbent is Rev. H. Collier, who succeeded Mr. Mercer in March, 1892. The present members of the board of guardians are :-Messrs. H. Ecles, R. Nelson, H. S. Wills, F. T. Fankhauser, H. Hunt, John Griffiths, R. Griffiths, E. Newman, A. W. Bulstrode, and E. Lee Neil. Mr. John Griffiths also represents the parish in the Church Synod.