It has been 40 years since Kyneton had a Presbyterian church, but it’s making a comeback.
Parishioners Joy and Noel Johnston (pictured) want to reach out to those interested in reforming the congregation.
The Johnstons are long-serving members of the Gisborne and Melbourne Presbyterian churches, but say they look forward to attending services closer to home.
“We’ve been members of the church all our lives, and have been driving from Kyneton to Gisborne to attend church for some years,” Mr Johnston says.
The first Presbyterian service was held in Kyneton in 1856 under a gum tree on Post Office Creek, Mr Johnston says.
“In the mid-1970s, the Kyneton presbyterian, methodist, and congregational churches all joined the Uniting church, so they shut down,” he says.
“About a third of the Presbyterian churches in Australia continued on in that denomination.
“It takes time to start a church, and that’s why the re-establishment of the Kyneton church has been 40 years in the making.
“There are people attending the Gisborne church from Woodend and Malmsbury,” Mr Johnston says.
“They have said they would like to see the Kyneton church re-established.
“We have to get a small nucleus going, and we are interested to see if we can build on that.”
Information: noel.johnston@aitex.com.au
