Uniting Church Archives NSW/ACT
The Archives Unit is responsible to the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT for caring for historical records of the Uniting Church and its predecessor denominations.
In 2010, the disposition of archives and location of the reading areas changed; access conditions are detailed below.
Please keep sending your church records and other historical material to the Archives. It is especially important to send in baptismal registers regularly so they don’t get forgotten or lost.
The Archives office and work area is located in the Mildred Parker Room at the Centre for Ministry.
The library of local church histories, guides to ministers, old church newspapers, old Conference and General Assembly minutes and other church history has been integrated into the Camden Theological Library.
The bulk of the records of the Synod (and its predecessor denominations) for Synod, presbytery and local churches, as well as baptismal and marriage registers, maps and plans, are in storage but will be available for retrieval at a fee and with sufficient notice.
The postal address is:
C/- Centre for Ministry,
16 Masons Drive,
North Parramatta, NSW 2151
Telephone and Fax: (02) 8838-8974.
Email us at archives@nsw.uca.org.au
The Archives office is staffed between 9.30 am and 2.30 pm on Monday and Tuesday only. Telephone research enquiries should be made only at those times on those days.
Those who wish to do research in person will need to make an appointment by phoning (02) 8838 8974 on Monday and Tuesday or by emailing archives@nsw.uca.org.au.
Opening Hours of the Camden Library:
10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted).
Fees: The fee schedule is available on request. There are concessions for members of the UCHS.
SPECIAL OFFER TO CONGREGATIONS! (see below)
Uniting Church Historical Society
The Society has changed its name to reflect the new organizational structure of Archives management within the Synod of NSW/ACT. Its prime task is now to promote the study of the church’s history. Members of the Society also continue to work as volunteers in the Synod Archives.The society organizes occasional public lectures on themes in church history. It also gives a prize for the best project based on oral history by a student at UTC.
Principal officers of the Society
Patron: The Moderator of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT (The Rev. Niall Reid)
President: The Rev. Robert Evans, OAM, MA
Membership: Any person with an interest in church history is eligible and is invited to become a member. The annual fee is currently $38 ($32 for pensioners and students). Members will receive the journal (Church Heritage) and Newsletter of the Society. Corporate membership (e.g. churches) fee is currently $38.
(Policy on fees for use of the Archives and Research Centre is yet to be determined. Members of the UCHS may be entitled to concessional use of the Archives. Depending on the review of these charges, the membership fee may drop.)
SPECIAL OFFER TO CONGREGATIONS: if you are planning an anniversary celebration and/or want to publish a history of your congregation but do not have the resources to do so, consider publishing your short history in CHURCH HERITAGE. Sufficient extra copies of the issue featuring your history could be printed for your needs, at very low cost. Approach the editor and ask how it works.
Church Heritage
The society publishes the journal Church Heritage twice annually, in March and September. Church Heritage exists to publish articles and review books with particular reference to Congregational, Methodist Presbyterian and Uniting traditions in Australia and the South Pacific.
The Editor is Professor Malcolm Prentis, MA, PhD, Dip Tertiary Ed, FRHistS malcolm.prentis@acu.edu.au
Online documents
On Exploring the History of a Congregation by Susan Emilsen
Writing a Parish History: some notes for beginners by Malcolm D. Prentis
Leaders of congregationalism: 1904-1977 by Geoff Barnes
Methodist leaders: 1902-1977 by Eric Clancy
Moderators of the Presbyterian Church: 1901-1977 by Malcolm D. Prentis
Links
National Assembly: Historical Reference Committee and Archives
assembly.uca.org.au/secretariat/119-history.html
Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Archives and Historical Society
victas.uca.org.au/resources/synod-archives-and-historical-society
Synod of Western Australia Archives
www.wa.uca.org.au/home/uniting-church-archives/
Research in Evangelical Revivals (published by the Rev. Robert Evans)
www.revivals.arkangles.com
