The Union Church Bendoc
In 1852 Rev. Clarke, a travelling parson, periodically called at Bendoc and Delegate to conduct services.
In 1870 Rev. A. Brazier, of Bairnsdale, made visits on the rare occasions when the Snowy was not flooded. The Rev. Samuel Percival, Church of England, and Rev. Colin Greig, Presbyterian, of Bombala, also made occasional visits at this time.
During the l890's a community church with a shingled roof was built by Andy Brant. The church is still in operation today, but now has an iron roof. The guarantors were H. Reed, W. G. Sellers, J. J Nichol and N. Cameron, and Jane Cameron, his wife, turned the first sod. His daughter, Kate, was the first organist and also worked the gold letters on black drapes for the altar. The first minister was Rev.
Stapley."
From - A Short History of Bendoc and the Bendoc State School 1873-1973In 1903 Mr. Kent, an Orbost clergyman, conducted the first service in Bendoc Union Church. It was attended by 175 people from the isolated community.
In 1999 it is still in use as a non-denominational Union Church and Ecumenical and other Christian services are he1d in the old building several times each year. It is also used for baptisms, weddings and recently a memorial service. In 1997 Bishop Arthur, Anglican Bishop of
Gippsland, officiated along with the Rev. Sarah MacNeil when the Church's new name board was blessed.There were never many Union Churches and all were in small, isolated townships. Most are now in private hands or have been taken over by Christian denominations. So what we have here in Bendoc is a "Living Treasure", an example of a Church of bygone days still being used for worship by the rural community today.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Background Information
Over the last 5 years the community of Bendoc, with the assistance of members of the wider community, carried out essential maintenance work to the Church building totally unaided and on a volunteer basis to the value of $7,250.00.Bendoc Union Church is a fine example of the architecture of its time and complements the existing Bendoc Memorial Hall, which was restored by the community several years ago. The Church is a simple timber building constructed of local hardwood. A projecting vestry faces the street. The original shingle roof has been replaced with corrugated iron.
Project Plan Outlining Major Stages of Project
The original finials are not suitable for restoration - they need to be replaced. Both barge boards and frieze are also beyond restoration and need to be replaced. The elaborate and interesting entry doors with hand-forged hinqes and latch set are suitable for restoration, but the vestry door and the rear entry door along with their jambs, stiles and sills need to be replaced. The five windows are now beyond restoration and also need to be replaced.We are aware of a number of people who are prepared to help us with this project, in particular those people who were involved in the restoration of the Bendoc Memorial Hall.
As the original Trustees of the building have all died, we believe it is important to re-establish a board of trustees of local people. To date the Bendoc Progress Association Inc. has been manageing the building on behalf of the local community. There will be some cost in establishing this as well as the need for a title search.