Hi Russell, The first recorded church in Colac was Presbyterian. Services were conducted by the Reverand Gow in 1847 in Hugh Murray's barn - a site now occupied by the Eventide Hostel. When visiting clergy of other denominations were passing through Colac, they used this also. No mention of a Frederick Lewis, perhaps he was one of the passing clergy. cheers Dorothy On 31/08/2007 8:02:00 PM, Russell Harris ([email protected]) wrote: > Thank you Dorothy, > That too is very interesting. It appears that before 1858 there was no > church. > This being the case where would the baptisms have occurred? Would they > have perhaps been at home or perhaps in the house of the minister. > The minister that performed the baptism for Mary Jane Harris in 1851 was > Frederick Lewis. > Regards > Russell > > The HARRIS family > Thomas George Harris > A Glenpatrick Miner > Also...Collins and Carey > I'm now mining for information if you can help in any way > contact me, Russell on the email address > [email protected] > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: MD Ingram <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Friday, 31 August, 2007 7:41:38 PM > Subject: Re: [GEELONG] Colac Methodist Church Wesleyan > > Hi Russell, > > In the book "Forest, Lake and Plain" the following is mentioned. > > "By 1858 there were a number of Methodist families located in the area and the need for a church was felt. The goal was realised by the erection of a stone church built on land donated by Mr. A. Dennis in 1858. In the same year services were held at Ryan's > barn on the south-west corne