By D. Macrae Stewart
Published by D.W. Paterson Co Printers: Melbourne 1909 1st Edition
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The Presbyterian Church of Victoria - Jubilee History: Growth in Fifty Years, 1859-1909 by D. Macrae Stewart is a detailed institutional history produced to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria. Published in Melbourne in 1909 and issued by authority of the General Assembly, the work traces the church's development from its colonial foundations through a period of rapid expansion shaped by migration, gold-rush society, and the consolidation of religious life in nineteenth-century Victoria. Stewart documents the establishment of congregations, governance structures, theological influences, and the practical challenges of ministry in a growing and often dispersed population, grounding the narrative firmly in local context.
Richly illustrated with portraits and documentary material, the volume also records key figures, assemblies, and turning points that defined the church's identity during its first half-century. Beyond its ecclesiastical focus, the book offers valuable insight into broader social, cultural, and community life in colonial and early Federation-era Victoria, making it an important source for understanding how organised religion intersected with education, settlement, and public life. This book would appeal particularly to collectors of Australian church history, Victorian-era Australiana, and researchers interested in colonial society and religious institutions."
