Brief History of the Southern Presbyterian Church

The history of the Southern Presbyterian Church has its roots in a spiritual awakening that occurred in the late 1950s.  Between the years of 1957 and 1960, there were a number of people throughout Tasmania who became concerned about the liberal teaching in many of the so-called evangelical Churches. They were also troubled regarding the number of people who had made a decision for Christ but later showed no interest in the things of God, but were rather hardened.  The people with these concerns began to have fellowship with each other and formed about seven home Bible study groups throughout the state of Tasmania. 

In 1957 a number of these groups began to consider the doctrines of the Reformed Faith.  This interest was encouraged by the publication of such books as ‘The Body of Divinity’ by the Puritan writer, Thomas Watson.  The Lord’s blessing was upon these people in a very wonderful way.  The Holy Spirit made such great truths as God’s sovereignty and free grace very real and precious to them.  Immediately they began to spread abroad the doctrines of grace.  Some who heard these doctrines were very hostile, while others were led to embrace these truths.

Discussions took place as to whether a new Church should be formed and a new denomination was formed in 1961, named ’The Reformed Evangelical Church’.  This name was later changed to ‘The Evangelical Presbyterian Church‘.

For a time the Church flourished and there was joy and zeal for the Reformed Faith, but, sad to say, soon differences arose.  Following some twenty years of disagreement, divisions and contentions, and with the growing perception that the Church no longer had an evangelical outlook, the situation finally came to a head when three members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, who claimed that they had been deprived of their heritage in the Church, issued a Supreme Court writ against two of its ministers and four of its elders.

After protests to the then Moderator of the Church, the writ was eventually withdrawn and at the Synod meeting which took place just two days later, on the 15th June 1986, two ministers, one from Hobart and one from Launceston, and two elders from Hobart officially resigned.  Subsequently the Hobart and Taranna congregations, and a portion of the Launceston congregation, agreed to secede from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and at a combined meeting on the 12th July 1986 agreed to form a new church named the ‘Southern Presbyterian Church’.  After considerable negotiation the Church properties at Hobart and Taranna passed to the Southern Presbyterian Church.  The Launceston congregation purchased a church property in 1987, and the Gladstone Church was purchased in 1998.

At the time of writing (2004) the Southern Presbyterian Church has two congregations and two Preaching Centres.

The Standards of the SPC
The Supreme Standard of the denomination is the Bible with the New Testament translated from the Received Text.  The Subordinate Standards are the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms.  The form of church government is Presbyterial. 

Form of Worship
Public worship is conducted in a simple manner along Biblical lines with the unaccompanied singing of Psalms, prayer and preaching of the word of God.

Ministry

  • Lord’s Day Services

  • Taranna telephone link*

  • Tape Ministry

  • Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting

  • Sunday School

  • Young People’s Bible Study – Weekly

  • Young People’s Fellowship – Monthly

  • Monthly Lunchtime Fellowship

  • Outreach Programmes into the community

  • Book Shop/Library

 * The Taranna congregation joins the Hobart congregation via telephone link for the Lord’s Day Services.

Church Literature
In 1987 the Launceston congregation began to produce a quarterly youth magazine, called S.P.Y. (Southern Presbyterian Youth).  This magazine has gradually increased over the years and now has a wide distribution.  The stories contained in this magazine have been republished in four books of ‘Stories for all ages’.  These books have been sold throughout Australia and internationally.  A recent request (January 2004) was received to publish these books in Lithuania.  The Church also produces a number of gospel leaflets and leaflets on topical, doctrinal and moral issues.  The Church operates two bookshops, in Launceston and in Hobart, which provide sound Reformed literature to the general public.

Church Camps
The annual Church Family Camp has been a source of encouragement and blessing since our inception.  Various speakers have been invited from a number of Reformed denominations and visitors regularly attend and are blessed by the faithful preaching of God’s word.

Gospel Outreach
The Southern Presbyterian Church has sought to spread the gospel in a number of areas.  For several years some 2,000 ‘Words of Life’ Calendars have been purchased and, with other gospel literature, distributed from door to door.  Members of the congregations are encouraged to spread the message of the gospel and to use the various publications for that purpose.

Expansion
The Southern Presbyterian Church has established one congregation since its inception, which is at Gladstone.  Initially the local Presbyterian Church was hired for the services and then in 1998 the Anglican Church became available for purchase. There is a morning service conducted every third week, which is followed by a Bible study.

Ministers
During most of its history the Southern Presbyterian Church has had only one minister, Rev. R. Cameron-Smith.  The elders and exhorters assisted by preaching regularly.  For example, Elder John Coles preached over a ten year period whilst the position of minister of the Hobart congregation was vacant.  In 2003 Rev. Iain Smith, from Scotland became the Pastor of the Hobart congregation. 

Church Aims
The Southern Presbyterian Church seeks to uphold and promote the historic Reformed Faith and to preach the gospel.  It seeks to nurture good relations with other ministers and Christian people who are true to the gospel of Christ.