Parishioners celebrated the 150th anniversary of Lipson Uniting Church on Sunday, November 19 with a service followed by a pooled lunch.
The church was built by Cornish and Welsh miners out at the Burrawing Mine in 1873 and moved stone by stone when the mine closed to the outskirts of Lipson.
Shifting the then Lipson Methodist Church a total of 3.5km took until 1893.
In 1977, Methodist churches became part of the Uniting Church of Australia.
The church swelled from its usually small faithful congregation of six people to more than 40 people for the celebration service.
Alison Speirs helped the congregation to remember past people and events before looking to the future.
Her sermon talked about how everyone had different talents and how they could be used to help each other.
A song Pearl Carr wrote for the church’s 100th anniversary was modified by Graham Ingram and sung on the day.
Parishioner Pat Carr (nee Dick), who has attended the Lipson church for the past 60 years, played the guitar for the chorus.
She and her cousin Caryll Cabot (nee Carr) taught Sunday School Lipson Methodist Church together as teenagers.
People reminisced about times when more than 30 children attended Sunday school at Lipson and harvest festivals.
They talked about the welcoming spiritual feel of the church which still exists today.
South Australian Uniting Church moderator Reverend Peter Morel shared his fond memories of Lipson church via an email.
Tumby Bay Uniting Church Parish was his first placement as a minister from January 1996 to December 1999.
“Over the four years we were there, I preached and led worship three out of four Sundays in the month. It was always a special time of community and worship,” Reverend Morel said.
“At that time, my daughter would often come with me. As an eight to 10-year-old she enjoyed sitting in the service, followed by breakfast with this community.
“Jenni, along with many other children over the years, received such wonderful hospitality and care.”
Reverend Morel said when Jenni was teaching at Navigator College in Port Lincoln she had preached with him at Lipson church on one occasion.
“I am so grateful to the Lipson Church for being a part of my ministry formation, for their care and affirmation, as well as some challenges along the way,” he said.
“This community will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
The service was followed by a shared brunch.
Lipson Church has services twice a month on the first and third Sunday at 8am in summer, followed by breakfast, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Alison thanked those who helped to clean the church inside and out, put up the new sign, cooked food, played music and read the readings.
“This day could not have been done without sharing of our talents together,” she said.
Geoff Stewart drove the Tumby Bay Community Bus to transport people between Tumby Uniting Church and Lipson.
