Ivanhoe Uniting Church

Gazing at the Ivanhoe Uniting Church, have you ever considered its humble beginnings? The Ivanhoe Uniting Church story started in a simple state school. In August 1890, two men, Thomas Latham and A. R. Fenton, arrived in Ivanhoe. They missed their church community back in Collingwood. Back then, there were no places of worship in Ivanhoe. The closest option was the Alphington Wesleyan Church, a mile away. On October 5, 1890, they held the first Wesleyan service right here in Ivanhoe. This very spot where the Ivanhoe Uniting Church now stands was once a small state school, later replaced by the post office. The Reverend James Lowe from Preston led the service. The current church building, however, dates back to 1925. The foundation stone was laid on July 18th of that year. The architect, John Jenkin, designed the church in a Norman or English Romanesque style. Notice the red brick and rendered dressings. The central tower with its crenellated parapet and machiolations adds a touch of grandeur. The roughcast half-timbered gable ends and windows with plate tracery create a unique charm. The surrounding Cypress and conifer trees add to the church’s serene setting. Inside, the pipe organ, installed in 1926, has filled the sanctuary with music for generations. The Ivanhoe Uniting Church holds almost a century of memories and community spirit. It’s a testament to the dedication of those early settlers who yearned for a place of worship in their new home.