We Need Church Histories for Gunning and Dalton

Keith Brown, Ann Darbyshire and Garry Smith inside the Gunning Uniting Church (Photograph by Malia Smith)

As a descendant of the Alchin Family of Gunning, Dalton, Jerrawa and various other places, I was pleased to visit the Uniting Churches at Gunning and Dalton in early March this year.

Malia and I were warmly welcomed by Keith Brown and Ann Darbyshire and given access to both churches. It was a rewarding opportunity to see the interior of both places of worship.

Robert & Lucy Bayley Window

Of particular interest was the stained-glass window in the Gunning church dedicated to Robert and Lucy (nee Waters) Bayley. It is always gratifying to find such an artefact that has such relevance to my own family history research.

Having the opportunity to examine the architecture and interior fittings of both churches underlines the simplicity of these churches but yet makes clear the ethos of the Wesleyan/Methodist approach to the “business” of worship.

The contrast between the two churches is more about the times they were established and built. The Dalton Uniting Church reflects a simplicity of architecture and interior design – no stained glass - that supports both its age and purpose at its beginning.

Inside the Uniting Church at Dalton (Photograph by Garry Smith)

The outstanding issue for Malia and me as we drove away from Dalton via Gunning and on to Canberra was the need for church histories for these wonderful country churches. Anyone planning such a project … please?

Guest article by Garry Smith.