Our
History
As with most churches, our history stands as a testimony to the wonderful hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness. Our journey as a church began in August 1985...
1985: Sunday School held under the ‘Marina’ House at 1770, with the Mergards.
1986: Sunday School moved to Tom Jeffery Park.
1990: First Service held in Agnes Water State School, with 12 Adults.
1991: Pastor Bruce Wilding (Gin Gin Baptist) visited fortnightly for church services.
1993: A special Service of Recognition as a Baptist Fellowship was held on 26th September, and marked the official beginning of what is now the Agnes Water Baptist Church.
1994: Church services moved from the school to the Agnes Water Community Centre.
1995: Land was purchased on Bicentennial Drive, and a building obtained from Deagon Baptist (formerly the Youth Hall) in October. The building was temporarily placed at Captain Creek, before relocation to Bicentennial Drive as the worship centre.
The Mergard family were instrumental in starting AWBC.
1996: The official opening and dedication of the ‘Agnes Water/1770 Baptist Fellowship’, 8th June 1996.
1996: Pastor Norm Mergard served as interim minister.
1997: A school demountable building was located and converted to the Church Manse.
1998: Pastor Ian Russell served as minister from April 1998.
2002: The Kids and Youth Ministries Undercover area was completed in December.
2003: Op Shop Ministry Commenced at 43 Bicentennial Drive, in March.
2007: Pastor Ron Holley served as minister from October 2007.
2009: Church constitution overhauled.
2010: Pastor Adrian Iles served as minister from January 2010.
2010: Agnes Water/1770 Community Baptist Church was formally constituted as a Church in February.
2013: Official opening of the Men’s Shed.
2016: Pastor Dennis Prince served as interim minister from June 2016 to January 2017.
2017: Pastor Daniel Bassett served as minister from January 2017 to January 2023.
2017: Church name was simplified to ‘Agnes Water Baptist Church’ in May.
2017: Josh Hinds served in Youth Ministries, from June 2017.
2020: Jac Newell served in Youth and Children’s Ministries from May 2020 to December 2022.
2022: Beth Waghorn was appointed as Pastoral Care worker.
2023: Paster Rob Rodgers began his service as minister in April 2023.
2023: Alice Dinsdale was appointed to Youth Ministries in May 2023.
If you're interested in the history of the Baptist movement, you can find that here.