“Dig in.” That’s what Pastor Jack Blankley felt God was telling him. He was sitting in the Coburg Baptist Church garden praying about its future. The church seemed to be dying. Then he found an 8-ball under a bush. God was calling him to persevere despite the odds.
Coburg Baptist Church has a rich history. It reflects the changing face of its community. The church started around 1890. It grew out of Brunswick Baptist Church. Coburg was developing its own identity then.
The “new” church building is quite old. It is over 80 years old. Church founders wanted a good location on Sydney Road. They wanted to impact the community. They bought land and built the church during the Depression. This showed great faith. Over time, more buildings and stained-glass windows were added.
Like many churches, Coburg Baptist Church boomed after World War Two. It had over 300 people and multiple Sunday services. The Sunday School was very popular. There are stories of special services. Scaffolding was built to hold all the children. Hundreds of kids filled the church hall, twenty feet high.
After the war, many families moved to new suburbs. Religious interest declined. New Coburg residents were often European Catholics. Catholic churches grew while Protestant churches struggled.
During the 1980s and 90s, Coburg Baptist Church faced closure. Pastor Jack Blankley’s determination helped the church survive. He renovated the rundown buildings. The project finished in 2006 after ten years.
In 2002, Allan Parker-Benton became pastor. He wanted to see God do something amazing. He and Simon Beasy adopted a “tentmaking” ministry. They worked part-time as pastors and had their own businesses.
God protected and provided for the church. It began to grow again. God had a future for Coburg Baptist Church. Simon Beasy became Senior Pastor in 2009. He focused on discipleship and community outreach. He helped build the playground and rotunda. These met the community’s needs.
John Betts became Senior Pastor in 2014. In 2020, Rev. Sylvia Griffiths became Interim Pastor. She guided the church through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coburg is changing with major developments planned nearby. The founders’ decision to build on Sydney Road was crucial. Coburg Baptist Church looks forward to serving the growing community. The church is excited about God’s plans for the future.
Today, Coburg Baptist Church welcomes everyone. Services are held on Sunday mornings at 10 am. Children are included. There are activity spaces and a nursing room. The church is accessible to all. It aims to be genuine and help people connect with God. It wants to contribute to the wider Coburg community. So come join them for morning tea in the back hall after the service.