Smithfield Presbyterian Church

Originally located in the square forming a hub for social and religious activities for the local Scottish community in the 1850's-1860's. the church was demolished in the 1970's. The River Red gums planted to shelter horses remain.

Local land owner John Smith donated the land for the site of the church.   The congregation met at the school rooms and in May 1854 a temporary addition was added for the comfort of the congregation for winter.

The beginnings of the church began before a building had been erected.  A committee was formed in 1854 consisting of John Smith (Convenor), W. Umpherstone (Treasurer), Flavel, Bald, Joseph Blake (Secretary).  Purdie, Smith, Scoular, Hart and McGraw appointed as collectors for the district.   The committee met regularly throughout the year, on occasion at Smith’s Hotel.  Gavin Scoular and I. Turnball was added to the committee. Daniel Garlick, architect was requested to prepare plans for the church.   He submitted two plans, the gothic style plan was agreed on.  The church could seat 200 people.  It had four lance shaped windows on each side and a triple window at the east end of the door.  The pulpit was adorned with a beautiful cushion presented by Mr H.J Congrave of Rundle Street.

On 17 April 1854, trustees for the church were elected. Initially seven were chosen which was then reduced to three by death or removal.

The initial trustees were:

James Rintaul                  Farmer, Gawler Plains
John Bowes                      Farmer, Gawler Plains
William Innes                  Farmer, One Tree Hill
James Turnball                Farmer, Gawler Plains
James Purdie                   Farmer, One Tree Hill
George Elder jnr              Merchant, Adelaide
Alexander Hay                 Merchant, Adelaide

Elder and Bowes resigned as trustees in May 1855 and were replaced by John Smith and James Umpherstone.  

Mr Pannel of North Adelaide was appointed as carpenter and joiner and later to make the pews.  Coulter was employed to raise and cart stones for the church from Mr. Butters quarry at the foot of the hills.  A tender was accepted by Richardson and Pennycook for mason work, foundations and laying of concrete.  Saints was employed as the plasterer.  £600 was borrowed for the building; the total outlay was £1,600.   It was the seventh Presbyterian Church to be constructed in South Australia.

The church faced the eastern edge of Augusta Square and looked out towards the hills.

The church opened for service on the morning of 26^th August 1855 by the Rev. John Gardener. The afternoon service was delivered by Rev. John Parker Buttfield and the evening by Rev John Strachan Moir.   Thirty handbills were printed and an advertisement was placed in the Observer newspaper.  J.P Buttfield, local school teacher and lay preacher.  Rev Moir settled in the district of Smith’s Creek having arrived from Aberdeen in 1854.

Rents of the pews were 5 shillings a seat per quarter or a whole pew of £5 per annum. Each pew had room for six people.

Rev J.S Moir resigned in July 1858, due to ill health. The Rev Dewhirst and Nicholls supplied the pulpit for the next four years until Rev James Gordon came, ministering for 20 years. For the following seven years following his death, Mr Henry James Congreve took the services.  The Rev James Hendry and Foster H. Bardwell each served for three years.  The Rev Ashley Swann followed before being called to Victoria.

The 1861 committee comprised of Rev. Nicolls, William Innes, I. Turnball, Joseph Blake (Secretary), Gavin Scoular (Treasurer), R. Bald, J. Murdock, James Purdie, J. Catts.

The outstanding mortgage was a concern for the committee.  In 1862, the Rev Gordon asked how much each member of the committee was able to guarantee towards the support of a minister for one year. 

The church was well attended and quickly became the hub of the spiritual and social life of the congregation.  Attendance at the Sunday services was obligatory and teas, suppers and concerts were popular.  Annual anniversary celebrations were a big feature of Presbyterian Church life in South Australia.  A large afternoon tea and public meeting with up to 15 addresses read was a common feature.

In 1929 the Ministers horse was replaced with a car.

The congregation began to decline at the end of the 1940’s.

The last service was conducted on 31^st March 1957.  The edict of closure was read by Rev. J. Priestly.  A presentation was made to Mrs Twelftree in appreciation of her services as an organist.

All the church fittings were to go to the Presbytery of Adelaide for use in other churches with some pews going to the Jean Flynn Church, Elizabeth South.  A tribute was paid to Mr Harold Argent who resigned as Treasurer in January 1956 after 25 years of service.

The church stood empty for some the church had two fires one in 1968 and 1969, the damage was given as the reason for demolishing the church