By Andrew Humphries
When Charman Uniting Church’s new headquarters open in Cheltenham next year, it will cap off a wonderful story of four congregations coming together.
For Port Phillip East Presbytery Chairperson David Higham, it’s a story that captures the many positive benefits when congregations make the decision to join forces.
The story began in 2000 when Herald Street Uniting Church (formerly Congregational Church) and Cheltenham Methodist Church formed a joint Cheltenham Church Council.
Then in 2011, approval came for the Cheltenham and Mentone congregations to form a Joint Church Council, ahead of the two congregations joining together in worship at Cheltenham from 2014.
Fast forward a few years to 2021 and a generous offer was made from the Black Rock Uniting Church congregation to host Cheltenham-Mentone members while construction of their new church centre on Charman Road continued.
The emergence of Covid-19 and a disruption to building supply chains meant construction work at Charman Road has taken longer than anticipated but, during that extended time, Cheltenham-Mentone and Black Rock members formed a special bond.
Such a bond, in fact, that discussions soon began around the possibility of Black Rock merging with the Cheltenham-Mentone congregation.
With the support of respective Ministers, Rev Greg Fry and Pastor Di Patterson, that merger became reality and was officially blessed in July last year, with Greg and Di leading what is now Charman Uniting Church.
David says the success of the 2011 merger between Cheltenham and Mentone provided a template for what was to follow.
“It was certainly a successful merger in 2011 and both congregations saw a bright future ahead if they were to come together,” he says.
A bright future also now beckons for the Cheltenham-Mentone and Black Rock members, as they prepare to move into new headquarters next year.
“When Black Rock was approached about hosting Cheltenham-Mentone members, it was immediately accepted,” David says.
“Black Rock members were very open to the idea and were very welcoming.
“What we then saw happening as the Charman Road construction project continued to be delayed was the emergence of a strong connection between the Cheltenham-Mentone and Black Rock members.
“So, at a Presbytery level we then began asking the question of both congregations: ‘what will happen when construction is finally finished at Charman Road, and would you want to continue working together?’
“There were various discussions among the congregations and the answer was a resounding yes, because these members had come together, become friends and grown to love each other.
“Both congregations talked about it as a marriage, and that marriage occurred on July 9 last year.”
Pastor Di Paterson is looking forward to worship taking place at Charman Uniting Church next year.
David says by any measure the merger has been a great success.
“It was a great joy to see it all unfold,” he says.
“It’s been such a success because both congregations took the time to get to know one another.
“Sometimes a merger can seem like it’s being forced on people, but that wasn’t the case here.”
David says congregation mergers can have a wonderful outcome for those involved.
“I like to use the word ‘collaborate’, if congregations are open to the process,” he says.
“In the Cheltenham-Mentone and Black Rock example, members are going to have a new building from the middle of next year, and it’s going to be a great community centre for the Cheltenham area.
“Redevelopment of the church on Charman Road began in 2013 and, while no one thought it would take 11 years, it will be finished next year, which is very exciting for the joined congregation.”
David says the next step at a Presbytery level is to talk to other bayside congregations to encourage them to work together.
“Discussions will focus on what congregations might be able to do together in a missional sense, and how they can support the work that God is doing in the community,” he says.
“I think this might be the direction to take in a lot of areas, and we want to support the concept of a Christian community in as many communities as possible.
“How we work to link people together has to be considered, and we’re starting conversations around that now.”
The former Methodist Church in Cheltenham circa 1964.
Key dates in congregations coming together
August 2000
At a Combined Congregational Meeting held at Charman Uniting Church on August 6, 2000 the new structure for the Charman and Herald Street Uniting Churches was approved. The first meeting of the One Church Council at Cheltenham was held on November 1, 2000.
February 2011
Approval of the Parish request to form a Joint Church Council for the Cheltenham and Mentone congregations, and confirmation that the new council would be known as the Cheltenham-Mentone Uniting Church Council.
November 2014
The last communion service is held at Davies Memorial Uniting Church, a celebration and conclusion of 131 years of Christian worship in Mentone.
November 2014
A new beginning and new journey is started as the Cheltenham and Mentone Uniting Church congregations come together to worship in the one place, at Cheltenham. The significance of the event is marked as the communion set and candelabrum from the Mentone Uniting Church is carried into the Cheltenham Uniting Church at the opening of the service. The name of the church in Charman Road, Cheltenham, is changed to the Cheltenham-Mentone Uniting Church.
March 2021
At a special meeting of the Cheltenham-Mentone Church Council, Rev Greg Fry advises that Pastor Di Paterson and the Black Rock congregation invite Cheltenham-Mentone congregation members to join with them for Sunday services while construction on a new church at Charman Road takes place.
March 2021
First combined service at Black Rock takes place.
2021-2023
While regular combined services take place at Black Rock, lengthy discussions and prayer are held around the possibility of Black Rock merging with the Cheltenham-Mentone congregation.
July 2023
The merger of Cheltenham-Mentone and Black Rock is officially blessed. Presbytery Chairperson Tom Spurling leads the service of recognition of the new congregation, while the congregations, Church Council members, and Rev Greg Fry and Pastor Di Paterson all declare their commitment to moving forward together as Charman Uniting Church.
The word Charman is synonymous with the area and dates back to 1852, when Stephen Charman purchased 160 acres of land in the Parish of Moorabbin and donated one acre to the Methodist Church in 1855 for a chapel, school and cemetery.