Our History — Windsor Uniting Church

The story of Windsor Uniting Church begins in the early nineteenth century, when the Hawkesbury was one of the developing settlements of colonial New South Wales.

By about 1812, a small Methodist community had begun meeting in Windsor. The friendship between the Reverend Samuel Marsden, the colony's Anglican chaplain, and the Reverend Samuel Leigh, one of Australia's pioneering Methodist ministers, shaped its early development.

Marsden donated part of his land in Windsor to build a Methodist chapel.

They laid the foundation stone in 1818, and the first chapel opened in 1820. It became a gathering place for worship, fellowship and religious education, establishing a tradition that continues more than two centuries later.

As Methodism grew in the Hawkesbury, the original chapel soon became too small.

On 17 October 1838, they laid the foundation stone for a larger building, which opened on 4 December 1839. With seating for about 150 people, it reflected the growing congregation and Methodism's importance in Windsor life.

Education was also an important part of the church's ministry.

In 1861, they built a hall to accommodate the Wesleyan day school. The builder was James Melville, a Scottish Presbyterian whose wife, Mary Gavin, was Methodist.

Melville also contributed to the construction of other churches in the Hawkesbury, illustrating the relationships that existed between different Christian traditions long before the formation of the Uniting Church in 1977.

On 23 December 1874, disaster struck Windsor.

A fierce north-westerly wind carried a fire through the town, destroying homes, businesses and public buildings.

According to historical accounts, the fire began near the intersection of Suffolk and George Streets and spread rapidly towards Fitzgerald Street.

By the time the danger had passed, 53 buildings had been destroyed, including 36 residences, seven shops, three tanneries, a hotel, a newspaper office and the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

The loss was devastating for the congregation and the wider community.

Remarkably, the school hall James Melville built in 1861 survived the fire.

Despite the destruction, the Methodist community was determined to rebuild.

Less than a year after the fire, on 8 December 1875, they laid the foundation stone for a new church.

The congregation raised funds through community activities, including popular tea meetings long part of Methodist fellowship.

The new building departed from the simpler chapel style of its predecessors. Its neo-Gothic design, distinctive white exterior and prominent tower made it a landmark on the Windsor skyline.

The church was completed in 1876 and remains one of Windsor's recognisable historic buildings.

Over the generations, the congregation has experienced many changes, including the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977.

Yet the spirit of community, faith and perseverance that inspired earlier generations remains an important part of its story.

Today, Windsor Uniting Church continues as a place of worship, fellowship and service, sharing in the Green Hills Parish alongside Ebenezer Church and Scots Church, Pitt Town.

The story of Windsor Uniting Church is not simply the story of a building that survived change. It is the story of people who, through faith and determination, have kept finding new ways to serve their community.