The Folk from the Wind Wound Isle > additional material: The Tiny Church
"Set among lofty pines against a background of an old-world grave-yard the tiny Baptist Church at Port Campbell is part of the history of this district" - The 'Age', Melbourne, 12/6/1954.
The little church has its roots in a revival which swept through the district 80 years ago. Its influence has spread through Australia and to foreign lands and it is living and growing in the world today. From this pioneer church have come the following leaders --
James Robertson Evangelist
Robert Robertson Evangelist
William A. Robertson Home Missionary
Arthur Robertson, Jnr. Home Missionary
James Magilton Home Missionary
Rev. W.O. Ward Baptist Minister
Rev. J. Robertson McCue Baptist Minister, Temperance leader
Rev. Robert Robertson, Jnr. Baptist Minister
Rev. Joshua Robertson, E.D., M.A., Dip.Soc.-Sc., J.P. of N.South Wales, Former Chaplain A.I.F., Baptist Minister
Mr. Chris. Ward Home Missionary
"NOT BY MIGHT, NOT BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS" - Zec. 4.6
In the year 1874, the Holy Spirit moved among certain people in Port Campbell and suddenly they knew they had "passed from death unto life". In the background of this manifestation of God's power, were the prayers of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Robertson and the work of Mr. McGuire. Some years before this the Robertson family came from the Shetland Isles and settled in the Western District, - they sang as they came, -
"God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm". : W. Cowper.
Converted in a revival of religion in the Shetland Isles. Mr. & Mrs. Robertson were soon to see God perform wonders in their family for whom they were praying.
In the year 1871, Mr. Arthur Robertson settled on land at Port Campbell on which he built a large house of stone since pulled down. He quarried the stones out of a hill behind where the church now stands. At that time there was neither church nor minister of religion at Port Campbell.
Then the Mortlake Presbytery sent Mr. McGuire into the Heytesbury Forest as a missionary on undenominational lines. His work lay between the Hopkins and the Gellibrand Rivers, visiting the homes, praying with the people, distributing reading matter, and preaching where possible.
Mr. McGuire left a tract - "Immediate Salvation for the Chief of Sinners" - at the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Henderson. One night, to pass the time, Mr. Henderson began to read the tract to his wife. When he came to the part where the writer said -
"Nothing can keep you from being a Christian where you are now sitting or standing, if you choose Christ". Turning to his wife, he said - "Why, wife, I'm saved". "Nonsense, John!" said she, "How are you saved?"
Then her husband read the passage again to her and she believed.
Next day, Mr. Henderson told Robert Robertson his experience and that night Robert and his wife were converted.
In the morning, Robert told his delighted Father and Mother, and his brothers, James and William, made their decision.
All was joy and gladness. The young converts spent the rest of the week in going from house to house speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. When the next Sunday came there were 7 converts. A meeting was held in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Robertson. The converts began at once to pray, to tell their experiences, and some to preach. Soon they were joined by others and so the work went on. Mr. Arthur Robertson became a teacher to the young converts. His home was ever open to visitors and meetings were held there. He led Bible Readings, conducted the singing and superintended a Sunday School. He also visited people in the district, reading and praying with them in their homes.
THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON ASKS A QUESTION.
Casting about for help in the teaching of young converts, Robert Robertson wrote to the Rev. C.H. Spurgeon telling him of the Revival and asking him if he could send someone to minister to the people at Port Campbell. In his reply, Mr. Spurgeon wrote -
"I wish I could send out a man to preach in your regions but it is a long distance and few care to undertake it. I have not the means to support men in travelling to preach, for I find that the training of them takes all I can get. Could you not speak for the Lord yourselves ?".
The Robertson brothers answered Mr. Spurgeon's question by going out and evangelizing the Western District around them. They had received no training for the work of the ministry but they went forward as the Holy Spirit led. He opened doors before them. He taught them how to work, and having Him, they had all things.
James Robertson held meetings at Grassmere and Purnin.
Afterwards at the invitation of the people, he returned to be their Minister. - Some years later James joined the Evangelization Society and held missions in Victoria with good success.
A CHURCH IS CONSTITUTED.
Through reading the New Testament Robert Robertson decided to be baptized. He went to Melbourne and had a talk to the Rev. Samuel Chapman. Mr. Chapman baptized him in Collins Street Baptist Church. An invitation to visit Port Campbell was extended to Mr. Chapman. The invitation was accepted.
On December 17, 1884, at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Robertson, a Church was formed by the Revs. Samuel Chapman and A. Steele of Warrnambool. The following are the names of the foundation members --
James Robertson
Mrs. James Robertson
Robert Robertson
William A. Robertson
John Robertson
Frederick Robertson
Henry Buzzard.
A CHURCH BUILDING GOES UP.
As the work prospered Robert Robertson began to dream of erecting a church building. To help his dream come true he went around the district with a subscription list. After delays help and sympathy came from unexpected quarters and Robert wrote to the Lands Department about a site for a church near the Township. The Department told him to send the survey fees and the site would be surveyed. After many letters passed between Robert and the Lands Department and a long delay, a letter was received to say the site had been chosen to extend the town survey and his fee was returned. Then William A. Robertson gave a portion of land to build on. At last all hindrances were removed - a Committee was formed and the work was well forward before the Church was constituted. The building was done by local labour under the direction of Mr. Alec Hogg. The doors and windows were gifts from Collins St. Baptist Church. The church cost £90. Its seating capacity is 80. It was opened in 1885. The Rev. Samuel Chapman remained to the end of his ministry the friend and the guide of the members of the church. He spent many holidays at Port Campbell and during his visits he preached in the church.
"BEHOLD I SET BEFORE THEE AN OPEN DOOR, AND NO MAN CAN SHUT IT."' REV. 3 8
Scarcely had the aroma of freshly sawn timber gone from the little church than another door opened before Robert Robertson. He joined the Evangelization Society and removed with his family to Geelong. His work now became interdenominational. He held missions in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania. Most of the Missions were united - all churches joining in the work Through his preaching, hundreds were led to Christ. In one Mission 600 people passed through the enquiry room. Old outstanding debts were paid and restitution was also made on account of thefts that had taken place years before the Mission was held. There are three men in the Baptist Ministry whose Fathers and Mothers found Christ in his meetings and some converts became ministers in the Baptist and other protestant denominations. Some went as Missionaries to India, China and South America. Through all the years of his work Robert retained his membership of the church at Port Campbell and when the Jubilee was celebrated his name was still on the members' roll.
After Robert Robertson retired from Evangelistic work at the age of 70 he entered the work of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria _ serving as Home Missionary at Dartmoor, Cohuna and North Geelong. Three of his sons - Robert Jnr., Joshua and George entered the Ministry.
"A BROTHER BELOVED - Ph'mon. 16.
William Adie Robertson became the first Home Missionary appointed by the Baptist Church to Port Campbell. Following his transfer to Beulah about 1893, there was "a time of great evangelism and rapid extension of the work and much blessing". William Robertson was a tireless personal worker. His method of approach to men was described by one of his church members in answer to a question -
"Mr. Robertson came riding along the road opposite to where I was ploughing. Throwing his bridle rein over a stump, he came to me. We sat down on the plough. Taking his New Testament out of his pocket, he explained the way of life so exactly that I saw what Jesus had done for me and I received Jesus as Saviour and Lord".
"That" - said the Mallee farmer with radiant face and glowing speech - "is how I became a christian".
His friend the late Rev. N.L. Beurle wrote of him in a tender tribute -
"We friends of his later days called him 'The Bishop'. He gave himself and all his powers for his people and they loved him as I never knew man to be loved before. My Jonathan was the best loved man in the widest parish I have ever travelled and the grandest worker of all the strenuous souls I ever knew".
After the departure of his brother to Beulah, Mr. Arthur Robertson Jnr., took up the work at Port Campbell serving as an Honorary Home Missionary until his death in 1925. He was assisted in the work by Mr. H. McIntyre and Mr. M. Magilton.
"AFTER MANY DAYS"
Others linked with the church by ties of family and grace are the Rev. H. MacNeil Saunders M.A., Minister of the Presbyterian Church of New South Wales. Mr. Saunders is a grandson of James Robertson. His Mother, the wife of Pastor H.E. Saunders, was converted in one of Robert Robertson's Missions.
The Rev. George Gordon Robertson, son of Robert Robertson, Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.
Mr. Arthur Crouch, a grandson of Mr. & Mrs. M. McCue and son of Mrs. S.E. Crouch, first organist of the church at Port Campbell. Mr. Crouch is now the Minister of the Church of Christ at Sulphur, Louisiana, United States America.
Mr. Chris Ward, Home Missionary, son of Mr. & Mrs. A, Ward, Port Campbell, great-grandson of Arthur Robertson, Jnr.
Mr. William A. Robertson's youngest daughter married the Rev. H.R. Tunks, Vicar of St. David's Church, Moorabbin, and ably supports him in the various duties of a large progressive parish.
Ann Adie Robertson,
4 Peary Street,
BELMONT.
GEELONG. : 23/7/54.
The facts of the Port Campbell Revival and the building of the Church are gathered from records by Robert Robertson and from Church records.
Garry Gillard | New: 29 March, 2019 | Now: 5 September, 2022