How we started
That is a question shrouded in the mists of time – though there are not one but two written histories about the beginnings of our church.
Over 130 years ago a Baptist Church was started in Lawrence (1878), which was the major town on the lower Clarence River back in the day. Some years later a Baptist Church was commenced in Maclean(1905) which by this time was becoming the major town on the lower river. A Baptist Church had begun in Calliope(1878).
From 1905 until as late s 1921 services were regularly conducted at the following locales by the Maclean Church: Ashby, Harwood, Iluka, Palmers Channel, Palmers Island, Pine Grove, Taloumbi, Tullymorgan and Yamba. In the early 1940’s Lawrence Church was involved in outreach stations at Tucabia and Ulmarra. None of these other churches or outreach stations exist today.
Over the years each of the churches had begun to contract. There were several reasons for this, namely: World War 1, the Great Depression, World War 2, changes in agriculture requiring fewer workers; the diminishing reliance on shipping favouring road and rail. The easier access to more central places with motor vehicles rather than horses probably helped too.
In the 1920’s and 1930’s the three churches formed an association known as the Lower Clarence United Baptist Church Council. This was a loose arrangement to facilitate working together but had no formal authority except that there was a common Pastor. From 1955 there had been a steady “amalgamation” of the three larger churches (Lawrence, Calliope and Maclean) until they formed the Lower Clarence Baptist Church in 1962 and disbanded the three original Churches. All properties except for the Maclean properties were disposed of.
The Lower Clarence Baptist Church functioned from the Maclean Baptist Church properties in Wharf St Maclean until 2000 when the Chapel, Manse, and Church Hall complex (which was also the church run pre school), were all sold and new facilities were built in neighbouring Townsend.
Who we are today
We have a rich history and a turbulent past. The current Church is in some ways a remnant of the previous church but we are still a vital member of the Lower Clarence Valley community. We still conduct weekly services at our premises at Townsend, we operate several weekly Bible Study groups, we conduct monthly Praise services in each of the Mareeba (Maclean) and Caroona (Yamba) nursing homes. Our members are very active in the SRE (Special Religious Education) board and the Re-Serve Op-Shop (which provides all the funding for the full-time SRE teacher), and are strong supporters of the Combined Churches services that are regularly held in various churches around the district. Our church is actively involved in the Combined Churches Ladies Fellowship as well. We support three missionary families all of whom are related to members of our Church.
We preach the gospel and make disciples of all men and women as opportunities are given.
Who we are | What we believe | Leaders | Your first visit