Union Street Mission - Former

The former Union Street Mission, West Bendigo closed many years ago, and the property was sold. About 1894 Thomas Wearne established the Independent Evangelical Methodist Church in Lazarus Street. It was influenced by the 'Revivals' of the 1870s and 1880s in SA and the Loddon River, and in particular the 1894 Bendigo Revival leading to the establsihement of the Moonta Mission in Lazarus Street. By 1903 the congregation was so large that the St Mungo's Mine Church Hall was relocated from Eagehawk to Union Street¹. It is understood the Union Street Mission was also associated with the Creek Street Mission/Church (see separate entry - 3550). More historical information/photographs of the former church/congregation are invited. Photographs uploaded 4/10/2024.

The following information provided by email on 24/2/2025 by Wearne V G Bolitho. "A Former Sunday school teacher there. My mothers father Tom Wearne was the senior pastor there from it's very early days as a young Cornish lad of 18 Yrs with a burden for the Cornish miners and people of the West Bendigo & Long Gully area. I can remember clearly my mother telling me and my sisters about the Moonta Building being carted by horse and dray there and erected on that present site back in 1903. According to our mum there was an original building built in mud brick further down Union St towards Lazuras St. somewhere, it was just a public hall. Apparently the Saint Mungo's Building became available and that it was purchased I believe and transported to the present sight and resurrected and consercated as Moonta Undernominational Church.I have the original Church Bible which was given to my Grandfather & Grandmother back in 1903 plus a portrait of them. I can remember as a child going up to Sunday school & church twice a day with my sisters & parents and mum playing the organ, with various preachers ministering God's word to the congregation, it was packed. The people who preached there was my Grand parents Tom & Bell Wearne: Jack Lythgo, Alf Ireland, George Holt, The Brown brothers at Sunday school anniversaries & Harverest festivals. Creek St Christian Fellowship ran a Sunday School and church service there till attendance fell and the church was finally closed. Sunday school continued for a few more years with 5 buses going out and picking up the children from all around the Bendigo area. There was 200 plus children coming weekly to the Sunday school program. It eventually closed and moved down to Creek St Christian Fellowship with larger facilities."