Dates

• Existence: 11 November 1892 - 12 November 1900

History

May, 1882 Proceedings of the Commission of the General Assembly (Victoria): A Petition was submitted from the Rev D Shearer and his Congregation in Perth,* in the Colony of Western Australia, requesting that until a Presbytery can be formed in that colony, they should be annexed to the Presbytery of Melbourne and placed under its jurisdiction. On the motion of Dr Macdonald, seconded by Dr Nish, it was agreed to grant the prayer of the petition, and instruct the Presbytery of Melbourne to take the necessary steps for having Mr Shearer enrolled into their membership, and to give him all possible assistance and encouragement in the formation of a Presbytery of Western Australia.

3 May 1892 Commission of the General Assembly Meeting pp 38-39 and 11 Nov 1892 General Assembly Meeting: The Presbytery of Melbourne North request the General Assembly to take into consideration the needs of the Church in Western Australia: to approve of the Presbytery’s commission to the Rev. James Gibson to proceed there for the purpose of promoting Presbyterian interests in that colony: further, to authorise the formation of a Presbytery of Western Australia, and the disjunction of the charges of Albany and Perth from the Presbytery of Melbourne North, and to receive the Rev R Hanlin, of Fremantle, with his Congregation, into the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. After consideration the requests of the Presbytery were agreed to on 8 May 1892.

May, 1900 Proceedings of the Commission of the General Assembly (Victoria): The Petition from the Presbytery of Western Australia, referred to the Commission by the Assembly, was submitted by the Convener of the Business Committee.The Rev D Ross moved: “ That the Assembly receive the Petition, and declare the Presbytery of Western Australia a self-governing Church, with all prayer to God that she may grow exceedingly and be fruitful. ” The motion was seconded by the Rev. G. Carson.

12 Nov 1900 General Assembly Meeting The Assembly having resumed, it was reported that in Committee it had been resolved to approve the motion proposed by Mr Ross. The motion was approved.

21 Nov 1900 General Assembly Meeting p56 The Rev. J. Meiklejohn moved: “That it be an instruction to the Union Committee to inform the other Presbyterian Churches that the Presbytery of Western Australia will, through the action of the Victorian Church, become a separate Church, and seek to enter the Union as such.” The motion was approved.

The Presbytery of Western Australia 1900/1901 comprised of: Albany,Boulder, Coolgardie, Cottesloe, Freemantle, Fremantle East, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Subiaco/Leederville, Menzies, Northam, Perth (St Andrews) and Perth West.