Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Church, Buninyong Uniting Church grounds, 2025, 02/08/2025
In 1859 Scottish settlers at Buninyong commissioned the Presbyterian Church, now the centre of its historic precinct. Designed by Benjamin Backhouse of Geelong, the foundation stone was laid on 27 March 1860 by Mrs Celia Scott of Mount Boninyong, the oldest resident in the district. The cost of the building was £900 and when fitted out the cost was £1,265. The first service in the new church was held on 26 August 1860, and a bell founded by Greeves of London in 1849 was hung in the steeple. (Possibly this bell came from the old church on the hill.)
The local builder Richard Rennie built the church of brick and slate. In the 1950s the brick was covered with roughcast and plaster.
The church boasts some fine stained glass windows. At the north end is a window placed in 1891 by James Richmond in memory of Mr and Mrs Thomas Scott. Manufactured in Edinburgh by Ballantine and Sons, the window represents the friendship of Jonathon and David, and includes portraits of the Scotts.
Side windows in memory of Rev. Thomas Hastie, and Mr and Mrs Robert Scott were unveiled on Good Friday, 13 April 1900, representing the sower and the reaper, again with portraits of those commemorated. These windows were made by the Melbourne firm of Yencken & Co., designed by a Mr. Harness; the Hastie window was presented by the congregation, the Scott windows by the Scott family.
In 1982 a window was placed in memory of pastor Stuart Davies, a Lay Preacher at the church for over 50 years. It depicts 'Christ, the Light of the World'.
In 1977, the majority of the congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Australia chose to join the Uniting Church in Australia. Some congregations, however, did not. The Presbyterian Church in Australia continues to exist, as does the Victorian arm of the Presbyterian Church in Australia, through the congregations that chose not to join the Uniting Church in Australia.Colour photograph of the Buninyong Uniting Church grounds.buninyong, buninyong uniting church, celia scott, thomas scott, thomas hastie, stuart davies