St John’s Minyip – 150 Years

150 Years since the Dedication of the first Church Building, and the Naming of the Congregation, on 25 September 1875

During 1875, a wooden structure was built on land some 6km south-west of Minyip in the area called Kirchheim, which translates as “church home”. At the dedication service of that first church building, on 25 September 1875, the congregation received its name: St. John’s. The congregation was approximately 70 to 80 communicant members drawn from 25 to 30 families. A day school, also established in 1875, was nearby.

Both the first church building and school were destroyed by a storm on 26 February 1889. The congregation immediately started planning for a rebuild, with the school ready for use on 20 June 1889 and, on 4 December 1889, the new church building was dedicated. The church weighing approximately 50 tons was moved on a jinker, pulled by a steam traction engine across the paddocks to its present location in Church Street, Minyip, in May 1935. In 1936 the school closed.

On 12 October 2025 a congregation of approximately 130 people joyfully celebrated the anniversary event with a traditional church service with Holy Communion and a mostly sung liturgy, followed by an unbelievably large spread of delicious finger food.

Pastor John Weier presided, with Pastor Lester Priebbenow, Victorian/Tasmanian District Bishop, preaching the sermon on 1 Peter 2, where the ‘Cornerstone’ and the ‘living stones’ are not physical stones or a physical building but people – Jesus, us, and all Christians, who together are built into a spiritual house that has no use-by date.

Special guests included: Pastor Steen Olsen and Ruth, Pastor Denis Grosser, descendants of Pastor Dr  J. Darsow (served Minyip 1922 – 1948), Jonathan and Julie Krause representing ALWS, Mark and Jason from The Leadlight Gallery who re-furbished our stained-glass windows, and Pastor Geoff and Chris Kuchel.  Our Visitors book’s most popular comment praised the Service!!

Many stories of bygone years were exchanged, including those from previous members who recalled not only their own times but those of their grandparents and even great grandparents.

Moving St Paul’s church into Minyip, May 1935. (Photo courtesy Minyip Historical Society.)

Interior of church, showing the recently refurbished stained glass windows, originally installed in 1911.

L to R: Congregation Chair Bronwyn Krause, Pastor John Weier, Organist Steven Thomas and Bishop Lester Priebbenow.

The worshipping congregation.