Scots Church Adelaide

The History of Scots Church

Scots Church Adelaide was originally called Chalmers Free Church. It was built by a group of Presbyterians who supported the Free Church of Scotland. They called Reverend John Gardner from Scotland to establish a church in South Australia. He arrived in Adelaide in March 1850 and immediately set about purchasing the land on the corner of North Terrace and Pulteney Street .

The church building was officially opened on July 6th 1851. The tower which was added in 1858. In 1865 the Free Church, the United Presbyterian Church, and the Church of Scotland united to form one Presbyterian Church in South Australia. They became  part of the Presbyterian Church of Australia at Federation in 1901.

 In 1929 Flinders Street Presbyterian Church and Chalmers Church  amalgamated  under the new name of Scots Church, although the two buildings were still used for worship. The Rev Norman L. D. Webster, BA was called to Scots Church from Christchurch, New Zealand. Morning services were held at Flinders Street and evening services at North terrace. A new building was planned for construction on the North Terrace site. This plan was deferred due to lack of finance and then, World War Two.  In 1955 the matter of a new church was again raised and postponed.  The Flinders Street property was sold in 1956 to the YMCA, and all activities were transferred to North Terrace. A hall complex was built on the west side of the church with a hall, Sunday School rooms and offices. Blue stone saved from Flinders Street was used for the facings of the building.  The organ and the stained glass windows were also transferred to North Terrace from the Flinders Street building.

 In February 1960 David Hodges, BA, BD, of Bairnsdale Victoria was inducted into Scots Church, and during the next few years a progressive program was developed with emphasis on church extension and a new “approach to youth program”. Ian Tanner BSc was appointed an Associate minister in1963, and later in 1965 was inducted as Collegiate Minister.  In 1965 “Sunday Night at Scots," with contemporary music and bands, was introduced. 300-500 young adults attended. This event was later changed to “Friday Night at Scots”. A later outreach to disadvantaged young people was the formation of a drop in centre “Room 12” with 2 social workers.

 During this same period, Scots’ Outreach program included the oversight of the Golden Grove Church, and supported the development of the Para Hills Parish. It also established Finchley Park by building a hall and supplying Deaconess Lilias Walkley. Morphett Vale's John Knox Church was also given assistance.

 The Rev Dr John Seymour ,who was called to Chalmers Church in 1916, stimulated the formation of both Scotch College and Presbyterian Girl’s College. The church has had a continuing relationship with Presbyterian Girls College (later Seymour College). It supplied the g the school with Chaplaincy, and girls attended worship at Flinders Street, and then at Scots.

In 1977 Scots Church became part of the Uniting Church in Australia. Its minster, Rev Ian Tanner was elected the first Moderator of the South Australian Synod, and later President of the Uniting Church in Australia.

 Outreach to the University of Adelaide has been one of the visions pursued by the congregation formany years.  Although Scots is now a predominately older congregation, we continue to support young people, and have supported Chaplaincy at Adelaide High School and raised money for young people to attend  NCYC.

 In 2001 as part of our 150 Jubilee Celebrations we ran a series of seminars on various contemporary subjects such as Globalisation, Politics and Faith, Ethics and Christian Faith in Contemporary Society, bringing speakers from all around Australia.

Since then our exploration of liberal and progressive theology has continued and we have continued to pursue our vision of relating to the University Community which surrounds us.  

[Many of these details were supplied by Mrs. Alleyne Womersley]