FOUR OF THOSE who were at the opening of the church in 1890 attended the diamond jubilee of the Lilydale Methodist Church on Sunday.
THEY were Messrs. W. J. Power and L. W. Lowe, Mrs. F. J. S. Kerkham and Miss M. Brewer. Mr. Lowe is the only surviving member of the original church trust. Three services were conducted by the superintendent minister, Rev. G. T. Goldsmith, Invermay. The speaker at the Pleasant Sunday afternoon was Mr. Kekwick, M.H.R. The musical programme was given by Miss Kekwick, Mrs. Joyce Barnard, Messrs Kekwick, A. Jones, C. Lumley and J. H. Stephenson. Accompaniments were played by Miss Kekwick and Mr. Stephenson.
Among the former members of the church who returned for the anniversary were Mr. and Mrs. R. R. W. Swainston, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Kerrison, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Kerkham, Mrs. L. Pollard, Mrs. R. West, Mrs. M. Hill, Miss G. Manzoney, Mrs. Campbell (formerly Miss D. Manzoney), Mrs. S. Morrison and Mr. and Mrs. Les Youl. Messrs. Kerrison and Swainston were former circuit stewards, and Mr. E. F. Kerkham was trust secretary and the church organist. He served 20 years as organist.
The trust has been fortunate in having a number of practical men among its members. Mr. L. G. Gerzalia, a trustee for 31 years, is always willing to assist with his building knowledge, and has done much work in a voluntary capacity. Other trustees who assisted in a similar way were Mr. J. H. Manzoney and the late Mr. E. A. Dolbey. The late Mr. J. B. Manzoney was another trustee who took a keen interest in trust activities and supported it generously.
Long Service The late Mr. W. J. Grandfield was trustee secretary for 25 years. At the jubilee in 1940, an honour roll of former ministers was unveiled. The names are as follows-Rev. G. S. Lloyd (dec.) 1890, Rev. E. Tonkin 1891, Rev. S. J. Sullings (dec.) 1892, Rev. C. O. Lelean and Mr. C W. Andrews (dec.) 1894, Rev. J. L. Cope and Mr. Amos Reader (dec.) 1896, Rev. C. W. Atkinson (dec.) 1898, Mr. F. W. Robertson 1899, Mr. W. H. Pollard (dec.) 1901, Mr. D. Gooday 1903, Mr. G. E. Moore (dec.) 1904, Mr. J. R. Lynex (dec.) 1906, Mr. L. Howard 1909, Rev. G. N. Wheaton 1911, Rev. A. E. Ellis (dec.) 1914, Rev. J. Rees Thomas 1915, Rev. C. E. R. Benjafield (dec.) 1916, Rev. H. E. Walsh 1919, Rev. J. W. Strick land 1920, Rev. J. S. Fletcher 1923, Rev. E. Thompson 1926, Rev. W. C. H. Brenton 1928, Rev. H. G. Hunt (dec.) 1931, Rev. W. Bampton 1933, Rev. E. Griffin 1935, Rev. O. W. Furness 1936, Mr. H. Kendall 1937, Mr. L. G. Darling 1938, Mr. C. K. Smith 1940. Those who have served since 1940 are Messrs. A. T. Jes sop, W. G. Hawkey, S. T. Lucas, A. Long, and D. Radford.LILYDALE CHURCH 60 YEARS OLD. (1950, August 29). Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2015, fromhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52784956
[Thanks to Suzanne Griffin for this]