One of our lectionary readings of recent times told of Jesus sending out seventy-two disciples to the towns and villages in Judea on mission. Their aim was to bring God’s Kingdom to the people of that region.
A similar outreach commenced at Longford in the year 1834, when a small band of men and women, whose hearts had been touched, were met by the minister from Launceston, Rev. J.A. Manton M.A., to be enrolled in the Society’s books.
The first meeting to form the Society at Longford was held in Lawrence’s barn, on a farm adjoining “Northbury”.
The first hymn given out was No. 501 in the old hymn book-
Jesus great shepherd of the sheep,
To Thee for help we fly,
Thy little flock in safety keep,
For oh, the Wolf is nigh.
Truly it was a little flock, and yet from that little band, great work was done. From that centre members went to many parts of the country and laid foundations of other bands to declare the same gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Resident Longford Wesleyan Local Preacher, Francis French is not included on the Plan, probably due to him working as a Catechist to the Convict Road Chain Gangs and of a Sunday morning being required to attend services with the group at the Church of England.)
It was not long before the newly formed Society determined to build a Chapel (the word Church was not then used). Mr. Joseph Heazlewood gave the land where the old Sunday School still stands, though now sold and converted into a residence.
Rev. Manton when reporting to the Wesleyan Committee in England of the work in Van Diemen’s Land in his letter of 20 August 1836 noted: “At the town of Longford, in the district of Norfolk Plains, our prospects are very encouraging. We are building there a good substantial Chapel. Three of our wealthy friends intend to take all the charge of it upon themselves, and, when completed, present it to the connexion free from debt and settled upon the Wesleyan plan.
What shall we do with this Chapel when finished I know not, unless we have another preacher on the station. Sunday services by a regular minister they must have. The distance is too great from us for the missionary stationed here to render them any assistance. Even were it in reach, the Missionary in Launceston could afford them no certain supply, as we have to cross a river which sometimes rises so high as to prevent any passage for days together.”
In 1836, Mrs. Heazlewood laid the cornerstone for the first Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in the district. The Launceston brethren rallied to the help of Longford in the building. Amongst the chief were Messrs. Henry Reed, John Crookes, Isaac Sherwin and John Ward Gleadow. The building was a plain and comfortable one, light and pleasant, and was the birth place of immortal souls.
When the Chapel was opened in 1837 it was done quite free of debt, and much rejoicing for the way God had helped them in their great undertaking.
Again quoting from a letter by Rev. J.A. Manton, dated 12 July 1837, he says: – “On the 4th. instant our Chapel at Longford on Norfolk Plains was opened for Divine worship. Mr. Butters from Hobart Town preached in the afternoon after which I administered the Sacrament of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The congregation was large and respectable, and the collection very good, amounting to £350. This neat and substantial Chapel, which had cost £1,100, has been built by three of our pious and liberal friends in this town, who if we may judge by experience, seemed to be ample repaid on the day in which the doors of this elegant structure were thrown open to the worshippers of God they love. But more especially do they derive satisfaction from the confident expectation that crowds will be born for Glory there.”
Chapels in surrounding settlements followed in rapid succession – Perth, four miles away in 1838, Cressy seven miles to the south in 1839, and in 1840 the Salem Chapel (later known as Pateena) about four miles north of Longford.
Longford was formed into a Circuit in 1848 with the Rev. H.H. Gaud being appointed as minister. Other churches were soon built and congregations established as part of the Circuit and included those at Butleigh Hill (1860), Maitland (1863), Little Hampton (1875) on moving the church from Maitland, Bishopsbourne (1875) but a congregation had been meeting there from as early as 1850, and Liffey Rivulet (1872) with the church building being moved in 1909 to Elphinstone Road, Cressy.
The current brick church at Longford was opened on 18 July 1880 and like the first chapel was opened free of debt.
By Ivan Badcock, 31 July 2010 – Updated 31 July 2021