HISTORY

The Congregational Church in Wollongong was officially established in October, 1855,
and services were held in family homes. The first minister was Rev. George Charter, who
had been a missionary in the South Seas. In 1856, it was decided to build a chapel for the
growing congregation, and in August, 1857, the present church in Market Street was
dedicated. Trustees of the new building included the Sydney businessmen,
David Jones and John Fairfax.


David Jones

The Church has been classified by the NSW Heritage Commission for its historic
significance. The names of members of the church who made significant contributions
both to the church and to the wider Wollongong community are featured in plaques on
the walls and dedications under the windows.


eg. George Hewlett, who was a deacon of the church, was also a member of the
first municipal council in 1859, served as mayor on numerous occasions, was treasurer of
Wollongong Hospital and trustee of the Illawarra Building Society. "Little Milton",
Wollongong's oldest residence, was built as the manse for Rev. George Charter and his family.

The City of Wollongong has changed remarkably since the church was first established.
The township then boasted only 124 houses and a population on 864. But Jesus Christ
remains the same yesterday, today and forever, and the Wollongong Congregational Church
continues today to live and work to proclaim the good news of his gospel in word and deed.

WHO ARE WE?
The Wollongong Congregational Church is a member of the Fellowship of
Congregational Churches, which was founded in 1977 after the majority of
Congregational Churches became part of the Uniting Church of Australia. The FCC
represents Congregational Churches and pastors across Australia and is a founding
member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship.
Congregationalism has its roots in England in the 16th century, when it stood for the
purity of the church and for the freedom of each church to conduct its own affairs under
the Lordship of Christ. Thus, in Congregationalism, the congregation is understood to be
the centre of church authority and government.

In England, well-known Congregationalists have been John Bunyan, the author of
Pilgrim's Progress, John Owen, vice-chancellor of Oxford University and the London
preacher, Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The 19th century missionary to Africa, David Livingstone,
was also a Congregationalist. Some of the early members of the church, the Pilgrim
Fathers, sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1622 and made a great impact on
American life and values. New England Congregationalists went on to found Harvard
University in 1636 and Yale University in 1701. The outstanding American
Congregationalist of this period was Jonathan Edwards.
Congregationalism came to the Australian colonies in the 1830's